Sharing food in voting queues is corruption and an integrity breach – CHRAJ

The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has criticised the MP for Ayawaso West Wuogon, Lydia Alhassan for distributing food to security officials during the special voting exercise on Monday.

CHRAJ Commissioner Dr Joseph Whittal condemned the act and described it as voter inducement and corruption.

“It is not right to share food, money to anybody in a queue in preparation to vote, because it is tantamount to corruption and an integrity issue,” he said in an interview with JoyNews.

He also raised concerns about the professionalism of security officials who accepted the food, questioning their ability to uphold fairness in similar situations on Election Day.

“How can you come to exercise your franchise and somebody gives you food, which you don’t even know where the food is coming from, and you take it and you’re happy that it’s okay to take it, particularly when you are being allowed to exercise that franchise to go and secure the environment on the seventh for all Ghanaians and you’ve started it on a false note.

“What happens if you go to the field and other people come to share food to people in line? Are you sure you will be able to cause any arrest? Because you don’t see it as a problem.”

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has launched an investigation, gathering evidence and witness statements to address the incident. Dr. Whittal supported this move, stressing the need for security agencies to reorient their personnel on ethical conduct during elections.

“That is at the level of the individual officers who were in this situation, but to not only Ghana Police but all the security agencies, their leadership, this is to tell them, this is a low performance,” he added.

However, Lydia Alhassan has denied the allegations, claiming she was not present at the Legon Police Station polling centre where the incident occurred although there are videos of her engaged in the act.

In an interview, she stated, “I wasn’t here. I don’t know if you saw me here. I came here early and left, so I’m yet to find out what happened.”

Source: myjoyonline.com