Lawyer and former Tamale Central MP, Inusah Fuseini, has called on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to demonstrate the “difference” it promised Ghanaians, starting with how it manages internal party affairs.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Wednesday, Fuseini, who serves on the party’s Ayawaso East Investigative Committee, warned that ignoring issues like vote buying and inducement in party primaries could undermine public confidence in the NDC.
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“The public entrusted us with power because they believed we would approach governance differently,” he said. “That commitment to doing things differently should reflect in how we run our internal processes.”
Fuseini emphasized that mishandling the Ayawaso East primary scandal could damage the party’s credibility. “If matters like these are downplayed, the confidence of the electorate, who expect integrity from us, will be eroded,” he noted.
The committee was established to probe allegations that aspirants offered cash and electronics to delegates during the primary held on February 7. Fuseini revealed that the investigation uncovered widespread misconduct, stating: “Our findings are clear, there was extensive voter inducement, and it was not confined to a single candidate.”
He confirmed that the committee recommended annulment of the primary results but highlighted the legal and procedural challenges involved. “The election was supervised by the Electoral Commission, and the results were certified as credible. This raises the question: can a political party overturn the verdict of the Electoral Commission when it did not conduct the election?” he asked.
Acknowledging public pressure for annulment, Fuseini urged caution. “While many feel the results should be nullified, any action must have a solid legal foundation. Acting impulsively could create more problems than it solves.”
Describing the events in Ayawaso East as “acts of impunity,” Fuseini explained that the misconduct violated multiple laws, including the Political Parties Act, the Representation of People’s Act, the Criminal Code, and the party’s own code of ethics. “We cannot respond to wrongdoing by engaging in more wrongdoing,” he stressed.
He also pointed out time constraints as a complicating factor, noting that the committee submitted its report at 4 p.m. yesterday, and today marked the deadline for presenting a candidate. Despite these limitations, he reiterated that annulment remains a possibility, provided the party carefully considers the legal and procedural implications
