It’s barely 24 hours to the much-anticipated “Democracy Is Not For Sale” forum in Tamale, and students at the Tamale Technical University are already making their voices heard.

Speaking with Fostina Sarfo, host of the upcoming town hall, students called for firmer punishment against politicians caught trying to induce voters, warning that money in politics is eroding Ghana’s democratic gains.

“Vote-buying is becoming normal, and it makes us question the value of our votes,” said one student.
“If politicians are allowed to continue bribing voters, our democracy will keep weakening. There must be consequences,” added another.

JoyNews, through the Impact Makers Foundation, is leading this nationwide citizen–politician dialogue to tackle issues of vote-buying and illicit political financing.

The initiative seeks to aggregate citizen voices and feed them into an evidence-based Citizens’ Blueprint for Campaign Finance Reform.

Students highlighted the pressure that financial incentives place on young voters and stressed the need for strict enforcement of electoral laws.

“It’s not just about us; it’s about the future of Ghana. Politicians must be held accountable for the money they use to manipulate elections,” a student representative said.

The Tamale forum will take place tomorrow, Friday, March 27, 2026, at 4 PM at the GNAT Hall, and will be broadcast live on JoyNews, Joy FM, and affiliate stations.

This is the first of ten regional forums across the country, aimed at empowering citizens and promoting fairer political financing.