Leader of the Union Government (UG), Akwasi Addai Odike, has called for the separation of political party regulation from the Electoral Commission (EC), emphasising the establishment of an autonomous body.
Mr. Odike believes the country needs one regulatory body to govern political party activities, while another oversees the EC’s operations, allowing the Commission to focus solely on electoral duties.
“We must have a body that will regularize political activities in this country,” he stated on Angel TV’s Anopa Bofo, hosted by Saddick Adams, on Monday, February 9, 2026.
The politician’s remarks are in connection with alleged vote-buying at the recently held Ayawaso East by-election of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), with Baba Jamal front-running the supposed inducement.
Mr. Odike asserted that Baba Jamal is not the first or only person to have bought votes from delegates to win an election, claiming that 99 per cent of Ghanaian politicians engage in vote-buying to secure their positions.
He, however, expressed optimism that setting up regulatory bodies can help curb the practice.
He added that an electoral court, as proposed by the Union Government, should be established to prosecute individuals found guilty of electoral malpractices, ban them from contesting future elections, and potentially imprison them.
“So that firstly, if someone gives an allegation or if we get the slightest evidence that induced election, we will take you to court to annul your result and ban you from contesting for any position, secondarily you will be imprisoned,” he stated.
He stressed that giving bribes to people one intends to serve and represent in Parliament is “unacceptable.”
Source: Vanessa Elizabeth Nkum
