From our Ashanti regional bureau chief.
As Ghana gears up for the crucial 2024 elections, tensions are running high among political parties competing for the nation’s votes.
Amidst ongoing rhetoric against bribery and corruption, a disturbing incident has emerged, casting a shadow over the integrity of the electoral process.
On Saturday, November 2, 2024, an event at a Seventh-day Adventist church in the Kwabre East District of the Ashanti Region raised questions about the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) tactics in their quest for electoral gains.
During a seemingly innocuous church visit, individuals identifying themselves as NPP sympathizers presented a wrapped sum of Ghc3000.00 to the church elder of the local SDA assembly.
Although the visitors did not explicitly disclose the purpose of the monetary gesture, the very act of handing over cash in a religious setting immediately sparked suspicion and debate among congregation members.
This incident is particularly striking given the broader political context where almost all parties have been pledging to combat bribery and corruption.
The timing of the NPP’s visit—which was presented as a friendly gesture—appears incongruous with their declarations of a commitment to integrity in governance.
Witnesses report that the NPP sympathizers spent less than 15 minutes in the church, offering short prayers before departing, raising further questions about the sincerity of their intentions.
As the church service concluded, members formed small groups engaged in spirited discussions regarding the surprising appearance of the political visitors and the implications of their actions.
Many expressed deep concerns about the potential attempt to sway voters through financial incentives, with some speculating that this was a calculated strategy to secure votes for the NPP in an upcoming election marred by promises of ethical governance.
The conflicting sentiments within the congregation highlight a broader anxietal theme among the electorate.
While some parishioners dismissed the NPP’s actions as merely an attempt to influence their votes, others questioned whether the NPP adequately represented a commitment to combating corruption, particularly as the country grapples with deep-rooted issues of bribery and mismanagement.
A group of church members voiced their skepticism about the party’s promises should they return to power.
Echoing a common frustration, they advised caution against supporting Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, suggesting that he lacked the ability to deliver positive change for the country.
“A word to the wise is enough,” they remarked, illustrating the growing disillusionment among voters who have faced the disappointments of past political pledges
