While political think-tanks abhor the practice of inducing the electorate with money and gifts to participate in political activities, Deputy Minister of Information, Mr. Frank Agyekum, has given the thumps-up to the practice and says it as justifiable. Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Wednesday, Mr. Frank Agyekum, said even though the objective is to support and not to corrupt, he was quick to add that giving money alone would not do the ‘trick’ for a political party if it wants to win an election, but the act “helps people to try and do what they think they should do”. Expatiating his position to the host, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, he said people who gather at rally grounds come from far places, and therefore, it is prudent to provide them with transportation and money to take care of basic needs like water and food “to make them feel comfortable”. “That is how it should be...don’t forget that rallies are a show of force. You organise rallies because you want people to throng the rally ground to let them know that you have support.” Mr. Agyekum maintained that the practice is not intended to corrupt the people, adding that people are usually reluctant to attend rallies on their own without support. He noted that the practice of enticing the electorate with money and other things is even prevalent in developed countries; and said it would be a difficult task to end it in Ghana or anywhere anytime soon. On the contrary, John Larbi, programmes manager at the Centre for Democratic Development, was taken aback by the Deputy Minister’s pronouncements, which he said goes to give credence to the very thing they are fighting against. “What Frank is saying is just bringing this corruption up stage, as if it is a right thing to do.” “Political membership must depend on your conviction that you believe this party and not because this party is rich enough to give you money tomorrow, if it doesn’t give you money the next day then you don’t vote for it but the one who gives you the money.” Mr. Larbi said this kind of practice is undemocratic and poses a threat to Ghana’s democracy and must be discouraged. He urged political parties to cultivate good membership, strive to let them buy into the party’s ideology and beliefs, which he said, would be enough to persuade them to contribute directly to the party. “Political parties,” he appealed, “should lower their game to allow people to think of what to do and who to vote for.” Meanwhile, as the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers campaigns against political corruption, its field observers have accused the executives of the ruling New Patriotic Party of giving T-shirts and money to electorate to win their votes. Story by Isaac Essel