In the present by-election in the Assin North seat in the Central Region, there are several allegations and counteraccusations as well as denials of vote-buying.
Party officials for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have claimed that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) buys votes by offering voters between 20 and 200 cedis.
Sampson Ahi, a member of parliament for Bodi in the Western North Region and the constituency monitor for the election, claimed that NPP members shared money at the Assin Bereku Presby school park in a "blatant" attempt to purchase votes, calling it "unfortunate."
He charged that the NPP, which was in power, had distributed money while urging voters to support them. In the meantime, the NDC has been charged with the same allegations, including giving voters cutlasses, weed killers, and pesticides.
Travel assistance funds
Sampson Ahi, a member of parliament for Bodi who identified himself as a lead prompter, claimed responsibility for allocating funds, which he said came from his own resources, to individuals to ease their journey to vote.
He said that if they hadn't made it easier for party members to travel, many of them wouldn't have shown up to vote.
That, he claimed, was distinct from vote-buying.
Three males in Akonfudi who were reportedly distributing money scattered as the Graphic Online team approached them.
The NPP was aware of the large sums of money that the NDC was sharing in Bereku and Akonfudi, according to the Central Regional Secretary of the NPP.
He added that the NPP was not sharing funds and that this practise was alarming.
On the Assin Bereku Presby school grounds, where party officials from the two parties battled accusations, there was almost complete chaos.
However, several of the locals acknowledged that they had been sharing money.
Others claimed to have heard about the money being distributed but not to have received any.
Nana Aboagye Ayim, an Assin Bereku local, claimed to have heard about the money-sharing but claimed not to have received any. "No one can influence my vote. I'm going to vote for growth," he said.
Thomas Mensah, an additional Assin Bereku resident, claimed he was too elderly to have his vote purchased with money.
We will choose those who will provide progress to our neighbourhood rather than those who will buy votes, according to Charles Adjei Nifa, another Assin Bereku resident.
In the meantime, the Assiniboine North by-election began with serious voting.
Voters who were eager to participate in the process, some of whom had already lined up at the voting places at 4 a.m., expressed their happiness.
All 99 voting places received the by-election materials on schedule.
Officials from the Electoral Commission began distributing voting supplies to the polling places as early as 2 a.m. today.
To guarantee that there is no violence during the election, there is a noticeable police presence at the numerous voting places.
383 voters were anticipated at voting station B at the Endwa Community Centre, while 382 voters were anticipated at the Assin Endwa Community Centre polling 'A' stations.
The procedure has been straightforward thus far, according to Frank Boakye Yiadom, the presiding officer for voting station B at the Endwa community hall.
"We arrived here at 5:45 am to set up, and so far everything has gone without a hitch."
As of 8:10 a.m., 66 voters had used polling station B at the Endwa community facility.
Gladys Pinkrah, the Electoral Commission's Central Regional Director, reported that all polling places received electoral materials.
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