Senior Lecturer, Department of Political Science at the University of Ghana, Dr. Seidu Mahama Alidu has urged political parties to refrain from using money to influence the outcome of political elections.

In an interview with JoyNews’ Emefa Apawu on Saturday, he said bribing voters is likely to make people to vote for the highest bidder.

'At this particular point, we should try to divorce money from our politics. If care is not taken and people know that delegates will always vote for the highest bidder and candidates know that if I am able to outspend my other candidates I will win regardless of the competence, credibility, long service, patriotism, then we are auctioning our democracy,” he said.

This comes after a contender for the National Chairman position of the New Patriotic Party, Stephen Asamoah Boateng (Asabee) alleged that his opponents are bribing delegates.

Mr. Asamoah Boateng said this at the party's National Delegates Conference being held at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday. The Conference is under the theme, "holding together, working together."

According to Mr. Asamoah Boateng, he knows those who are engaging in the illegality but will not mention names.

“I know them, they also know themselves so I will not mention names,” he stated.

Asabee disclosed that he has given the delegates money to cater for their travel and transport (T&T) expenses.

“I only gave them T&T three times-150, 150 and 100,” he said.

However, Dr. Seidu Alidu pointed out that it is the responsibility of the party to transport and accommodate the delegates, not the aspirants, "the party has the responsibility to mobilize and organize delegates, transport them from wherever they are to a conference venue, feed them, provide them with accommodation. Regardless of whether it is transportation, food, or water, we all know the constitutionally mandated institution that is supposed to do that, so if anyone else is doing it, it means you have an invested interest as well."