Chief Investigator at the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), George Adzovie, has urged Ghanaians to prioritise competence, integrity and leadership qualities when choosing political leaders, rather than allowing financial inducements to influence their decisions.
He said the essence of democracy was to empower citizens to elect leaders with the capacity and qualities needed to improve society.
“If we want leadership among ourselves, we have to give that opportunity for someone to be elected, and there are certain qualities we need in that person to make our society better. That’s where our democracy comes in,” he said.
Mr Adzovie was speaking at Adom Brands’ public dialogue on the growing influence of money in Ghana’s democratic process, dubbed “Democracy Is Not For Sale.”
The forum is being held at the Ascension Hall in Koforidua and is organised by Adom Brands of the Multimedia Group Limited in partnership with the JoyNews Impact Makers Foundation.
Mr Adzovie cautioned voters against allowing monetary inducements to determine their choice of political leaders, warning that such practices could lead to the election of individuals who lack the capacity to effectively serve the public interest.
He urged citizens to carefully assess candidates based on their leadership abilities and potential contribution to national development instead of what they offer financially.
“Meaning that we don’t have to pick just anyone. But if we don’t look for those qualities and get lured by money, that is the mistake we are doing in our politics now,” he stated.
According to him, the key consideration in any election should be whether a candidate possesses the qualities required to provide effective leadership.
“The best thing is to find someone who possesses leadership qualities that can help all of us,” he said.
Mr Adzovie also referenced the 1992 Constitution, noting that it provides the framework and criteria for participation in Ghana’s democratic process.
“Our Constitution clearly states the criteria for who should be voted for, and that is what we need to be doing,” he stated.
He therefore called on citizens to protect the integrity of Ghana’s democracy by making informed electoral choices based on competence, integrity and leadership qualities, rather than financial inducements.
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