CODEO accuses NPP of misusing public resources for election campaign
Accra, Ghana - Nov 19, 2024 - Ghana's upcoming general elections on December 7, 2024, have raised concerns about the ruling New Patriotic Party's (NPP) abuse of incumbency.
The Coalition of Democratic Election Observers (CODEO) has flagged instances of misuse of public resources for campaign purposes by the the NPP which they according to them undermines fairness and transparency in the democratic process.
These concerns were contained in CODEO’s second pre-election statement, which details findings from its ongoing monitoring of electoral activities nationwide.
According to the report, 11% of observer submissions indicated the misuse of public resources by incumbent candidates or government appointees for campaign purposes.
In one notable case, NPP parliamentary candidates' flyers were used to brand a government-led road improvement program in the Tatale-Sanguli constituency, blurring the lines between state resources and campaign materials.
“For instance, in the Tatale-Sanguli constituency in the Northern Region, the NPP Parliamentary candidates’ flyers were used to brand the government-led District Road Improvement Program (DRIP), which saw the distribution of earth-moving equipment to MMDAs for road improvement.
“The campaign flyers of the Tatale Sanguli Member of Parliament and parliamentary candidate for the constituency were seen on the DRIP Programme equipment (bulldozer), which was being used to maintain and expand roads in the Sagban community.”
CODEO also highlighted the need for improved voter education, citing limited civic awareness as a potential threat to the quality of participation in the elections. The organization is urging all stakeholders, including the Electoral Commission and civil society groups, to intensify voter education efforts nationwide.
“CODEO continues to urge all election stakeholders, including the Electoral Commission, the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), media, and civil society organisations, to intensify civic and voter education efforts nationwide,” the statement added.
Source: Florence Kyei / Lead News Online
