Greater Accra Regional Minister, Hon. Linda Ocloo Akweley, has stirred public discourse with controversial comments defending the payment of transport fares for voters during the recent Ablekuma North Constituency elections rerun.
In an interview following allegations of vote buying leveled against her, the Minister dismissed the claims as unfounded and challenged critics to offer an alternative if they considered such acts as electoral malpractice.
“This is no news. Every election, there is vote buying. So if we are buying votes, they should also buy the votes,”
“We have members who travelled all the way from Kumasi to come and vote. So if such people come, you have to give them T&T [transport and transport] to go and vote, so I don’t think such a thing is vote buying. If you think it is vote buying, you too go and buy the votes. It’s as simple as that.” she remarked
Hon. Ocloo further argued that paying transport fares to facilitate the participation of party loyalists does not constitute an electoral offense or compromise the integrity of the vote.
She disclosed that during a live appearance on Max TV, she publicly shared her phone number and invited supporters from outside the region, including those from Kumasi, Tarkwa, and the Eastern Region, to reach out for support with transportation.
“I was on Max TV and I gave my number out. People are in Kumasi, Tarkwa, Eastern Region. So I told them when they come, they should call me and I will give them T&T. I don’t think it is vote buying,” she insisted.
According to the Minister, loyalty remains the key driver of political support. “If someone is loyal to you, the person will vote for you with or without money,” she emphasized.
The Electoral Commission currently is conducting a rerun of elections in 19 polling stations in the Ablekuma North constituency.