Implications of vote selling on Ghana’s democracy in Bantama Constituency

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine the implications of vote selling on Ghana‟s democracy. The qualitative approach and case study design were adopted for the study. The convenience sampling technique was used to select ten participants for the study. Data was analysed using thematic analysis. The analysis show, voters sell their votes because of unfulfilled campaign promises, readiness of politicians to spend on campaigns and the willingness of voters to use the elections as means of getting their share of national cake. Vote selling transactions start with convincing voters, followed by the process of channeling incentive, conveying voters to voting station and ends with proof of voting. Also, the findings show, inability to select competent leaders, corruption, tyranny, inability to initiate good policies and the inability to hold politicians accountable are the implications of vote selling on Ghana‟s democracy. The study concludes that, vote buying and selling are a contract where both politicians and voters, that is sellers and buyers profit while ignoring the aftermath consequences of such an action. The study also concludes that, vote selling has detrimental consequences for Ghana's democracy. The study recommends that, NGOs, electoral commissions, civil societies, and non-state actors should spearhead and strengthen democracy by mounting vigorous campaigns to educate the electorates not to accept financial or material benefit before they vote for a particular candidate. The study also recommends that, the consequences of vote selling and buying should be included in high school curricula to alert and conscientize Ghanaians about the threats.