The Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) says the electorates hold a solution to the monetisation of politics in the country.

This, they believe can be done through a resolve of electorates to vote out politicians culpable of vote-buying.

“The only way to stop it is for us to get them both to know that this is not the way to go. We must make them sign to it that we will vote for the candidate that do not accept bribes or pay for the primaries”, Executive Director, Professor Henry KwasiPrempeh said.

His comment follows vote-buying allegations against the Deputy Chief Executive of the Micro and Small Loans Centre.

Hajia Abibata Shanni Zakaria was cited in CDD’s Corruption Watch arm investigation to have used her centre’s funds to induce NPP delegates to vote for her in the recently held parliamentary primaries.

Across the political divide, financial and materials influence of voters has become recurrent, though alleged culprits continue to deny such allegations.

Prof. Prempeh says besides fuelling corruption, vote-buying deprives the citizenry of good quality leaders.

He points out it is part of governance issues inhibiting development, despite Ghana’s success in peaceful election and power transfer for nearly three decades.

“We are doing some of the democracy things right but the outcome is still not impressive. If we don’t do governance right we risk losing some of the gains made so far”, he added.

Prof. Prempeh spoke on the sidelines of the launch of CDD’s Manifesto Project in Kumasi.

Ten areas of interest have been highlighted in a document dubbed “Manifesto Project”, aimed at promoting responsive and responsible manifesto for development.

Governance, Education and Agriculture are among key areas of high interest.