Incentives, votes, and democracy a case of vote buying in Effutu constituency

Abstract

Ghana is recognised for its stable democracy; nonetheless, the prevalent and increasing acceptance of vote-buying, particularly at the constituency level such as Effutu, remains inadequately comprehended. This compromises genuine democratic accountability and underscores the necessity of conducting a comprehensive investigation at the local level. This work examined issues of vote-buying in the Effutu Constituency in the Central Region of Ghana. A qualitative approach with a case study design was employed in this study. A total of 36 participants were selected from all 18 electoral areas in the Effutu Constituency using purposive and convenience sampling. Instruments for data collection included an interview guide and focus group discussion. The data was analysed in themes based on the research questions and the outcomes derived from the interviews and focus group discussion. The study uncovered several distinct manifestations of vote buying in the Effutu Constituency. One of the most prominent forms identified was the distribution of cash during election periods, often given openly or through intermediaries to secure votes. In addition to cash, nonmonetary items such as bags of rice, cooking oil, cloth, mobile phones, and even roofing sheets were frequently mentioned as being distributed, especially close to voting day. Also, the study revealed that several interrelated factors contribute to the prevalence of vote buying in the Effutu Constituency, with poverty emerging as the most dominant driver. It was concluded that vote buying is thus deeply embedded in the political culture of the constituency and has evolved into a transactional practice where votes are exchanged for short-term personal gains rather than long-term community development. Therefore, Members of Parliament, Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), local NGOs, and development partners, should implement targeted economic empowerment programmes in the constituency.