NewzThe Queen Mother of Ho-Dome in the Asogli Traditional Area in the Volta Region, Mama Atrato II, has made explosive allegations of widespread vote-buying in Ghana’s Council of State election, claiming some delegates accepted GH¢5,000 each in exchange for their votes during the selection process in the Volta Region. Speaking at the JoyNews’ Impact Makers Foundation “Democracy Is Not for Sale” public forum held in Ho on Friday, July 31, the traditional leader described her experience as a former Council of State aspirant in the Volta Region as deeply disappointing, arguing that money has become the determining factor in securing public office rather than competence or commitment to public service. According to her, the monetisation of the electoral process has deprived the Volta Region of effective representation and contributed to its slow pace of development.
“When I went to bother myself to stand for Council of State [election], what is happening there is so pathetic and so sad because my Volta Region is underdeveloped,” she told the audience. Mama Atrato II alleged that some delegates who participated in the Council of State election were each paid GH¢5,000 to cast their votes for particular candidates. She further claimed that the delegates were transported together and accommodated at a hotel in Sogakope before the election.
“Delegates were taking GH¢5,000 to vote for Council of State,” she alleged. “The disgraceful thing is they were parked in a car and sent to a Sogakope Hotel. They were told to eat whatever they wanted.” The Queen Mother claimed that approximately 40 delegates benefited from the alleged payments.
In contrast, she said she could only provide delegates with GH¢200 each to cover what she described as “tea and transport”, leaving her unable to compete against candidates with greater financial resources. “Forty delegates were given GH¢5,000, when I was giving them only GH¢200 for their tea. The traditional leader questioned whether individuals elected through alleged vote-buying could effectively champion the interests of the Volta Region.
She stressed that members of the Council of State are expected to serve as advocates for their regions by lobbying for development projects and influencing national policy in the interest of their people. “The question is, do they know what the… The Queen Mother of Ho-Dome in the Asogli Traditional Area, Mama Atrato II, has expressed optimism that the abolition of the delegate system in Council of State elections will pave the way for the election of representatives who are genuinely committed to the development of the Volta Region.
Speaking at JoyNews’ Impact Makers Foundation “Democracy Is Not for Sale” forum, the traditional leader said the removal of the delegate system offers an opportunity to address what she described as the growing influence of money in the selection of public office holders. Read also: Democracy is a means to development, not an end in itself – NCCE While lamenting what she characterised as widespread vote buying in previous Council of State elections, Mama Atrato II said she hoped the changes would ensure that capable and development-oriented individuals are chosen to represent the region. “Now that the delegate system is abolished, let us pray and see if we can get the right people to represent the region,” she said in Ho on Friday, July 31.
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