The pressure group OccupyGhana has renewed its demand for the immediate criminalization of vote buying in internal party elections. In a formal
letter dated February 9, 2026, addressed to the Attorney-General, Hon. Dr. Dominic Ayine, and the leadership of Parliament, the group warned that the absence of explicit criminal sanctions for internal contests is "eroding public trust in democratic institutions."
The group argues that while national elections are protected by the Representation of the People Law (PNDCL 284), internal primaries—where public office candidates are actually selected—remain a legal "no-man's-land" for corruption.
The Proposed Legal Shift
OccupyGhana is advocating for a structural shift in how political corruption is prosecuted in Ghana:
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Criminal Definition: Legislative reforms to expressly define vote buying within party contests as a criminal offense.
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Jurisdictional Change: Moving the power to prosecute these crimes from the Attorney-General’s Department to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
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Merit-Based Selection: The group argues that financial inducements are displacing "competence and genuine representation" at the very first stage of leadership selection.
Context: The Ayawaso East Scandal
The urgency of the petition follows the fallout from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary primary in Ayawaso East held on Saturday, February 7, 2026.
| Event | Current Status (Feb 10, 2026) |
| Ayawaso East Primary | Won by Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed amid widespread vote-buying allegations. |
| NDC Internal Probe | A three-member committee is expected to submit its report today, Tuesday, February 10. |
| OSP Investigation | The OSP has confirmed a dual investigation into vote buying and the assault of an OSP officer during the primary. |
| Executive Action | President John Mahama has reportedly recalled Baba Jamal from his post as High Commissioner in response to the allegations. |
The "Loophole" in the 1992 Framework
OccupyGhana maintains that intra-party elections are not "peripheral" but are the "decisive mechanisms" of our democracy. By failing to regulate them, the state allows corruption to be entrenched long before a candidate ever reaches a national ballot.
"When these processes are distorted by material incentives, merit, competence and genuine representation are displaced by monetary influence." — OccupyGhana
The Bottom Line
OccupyGhana’s petition puts the spotlight on Attorney-General Dr. Dominic Ayine to champion a bill that treats a bribe in a party primary with the same severity as a bribe in a general election. With the OSP already investigating the NPP and NDC primaries of early 2026, the call for a permanent legislative fix has never been louder.
