The Deputy Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC) in charge of Corporate Services, Dr. Bossman Asare, has warned voters not to vote for the then presidential candidate of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP).

Akua Donkor passed away at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge Hospital) while receiving treatment. The cause of her death has not been disclosed. She was 72 years old.

During a forum in Accra on November 15, 2024 the deputy chairman explained that the EC, in agreement with all political parties, decided to leave Akua Donkor’s name on the ballot due to time and financial constraints related to the elections.

This decision, however, does not change the fact that voting for Akua Donkor will result in an annulled vote.

The event, focused on the impacts of election monetization, was organized by the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), in collaboration with the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), and with support from USAID through the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).

“Monitoring Campaign, Abuse of Incumbency, and Vote Buying for Comprehensive Party and Campaign Financing Reform in Ghana,” in Accra on November 15, 2024, he added that voting for Akua Donkor will be counted as annulled.

“We discussed with the parties that the time is very short, and we have printed over 90% of the ballot papers. Considering the time, it is very short.

“You know we have our senior lawyers… and when you look at our constitution, I don’t think the presidential elections can be postponed. Our presidential elections, the way it is structured, the last day I think you can have the presidential and parliamentary elections is on December 7.

“So now, all of us, our role is to tell people that, although Madam Akua Donkor’s face is on the ballot paper, don’t vote for Madam Akua Donkor because when you vote, your ballot will not be counted; it will be annulled,” he said.

“So please, I know you love Madam Akua Donkor, but this is not the time to show the love. The time to show love is… there are twelve people vying for the presidency; identify one of them. So, the Commission will continue to do sensitisation that although she is there, she is not part of it... let me answer: what if Madam Akua Donkor wins… We don’t think she will win.”

Executive Secretary of the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), Beauty Emefa Nartey, raised concerns about the use of inducements to sway voters.

She emphasized that politicians, having taken citizens for granted, frequently resort to bribing voters to influence their choices during elections.

“We can make Ghana better. In other countries that are doing better, it is the citizens who are making it possible. And I like what Dr. Bossman said, that we have to demand our democracy, and because we have failed to demand accountability, politicians have taken us for granted, and they will come to us with 5 cedis and 10 cedis.

“And the one that baffles me is Maggi and ‘Bentoa’, like how? Even if you want to sell yourself so low, must it be Maggi and Bentoa? I am not encouraging vote buying, so whatever money is being placed, it is not democracy.”