The Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Emmanuel Nii Ashie Moore, has admitted that the party is facing serious challenges in controlling the influence of money during its internal elections.
Speaking in an interview with Accra-based Channel One TV on the sidelines of the Ayawaso East parliamentary primary held on Saturday, February 7, 2026, Mr Ashie Moore said monitoring or preventing vote-buying has become “extremely difficult” for party leadership.
According to him, even with security presence and transparency measures, modern financial systems have outpaced traditional monitoring methods.
The former Adentan MP explained that with more than 1,000 delegates voting in Ayawaso East alone, illicit transactions can easily go undetected.
“For vote-buying, how can you monitor it? How can you control it? There are over 1,000 delegates here. As a Regional Chairman, National Chairman or General Secretary, what can you do? Do you know what the aspirant is doing in his bedroom?” he asked.
Mr Ashie Moore noted that political actors have moved away from the use of physical cash to digital platforms such as Mobile Money and bank transfers, making detection even more difficult.
“Today, MoMo is available and so is bank transfer. It is everywhere. It is very difficult to look at. I haven’t seen anything myself; it’s mostly hearsay, but I think all political parties must work seriously on it,” he added.
The Ayawaso East NDC parliamentary primary was hit with allegations of vote-buying, particularly against Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed, who emerged victorious.
Baba Jamal won the contest with 431 votes, representing 45 per cent, narrowly defeating Hajia Amina Adam, who polled 399 votes, or 41 per cent, in an election clouded by inducement claims.
During the polls, Baba Jamal’s campaign team distributed 32-inch television sets and boiled eggs to delegates, sparking jostling among some voters who sought to receive the items.
Speaking to the media, Baba Jamal confirmed the distribution but denied that it was intended to influence votes. He said generosity had always been part of his public life, adding that he routinely supports people financially and materially.
In a statement issued by the President’s spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, it was noted that while allegations of vote-buying were made against several candidates who contested the primaries, Baba Jamal’s case stood out because he was the only serving public officer among them.
President John Dramani Mahama has since recalled Baba Jamal from his position as Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the NDC has constituted a three-member committee, chaired by Kofi Totobi Quakyi, to investigate the allegations and submit its report by February 10, 2026.
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