Vote-Buying, Gunshots Mar NDC Constituency Elections

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has pledged to investigate allegations of vote-buying and electoral misconduct that overshadowed its nationwide constituency executive elections on Saturday, October 24, 2026, even as reports of gunshots and violence disrupted the exercise in several constituencies.

Social media is awash with several videos of several persons who claim to be delegates at the weekend polls displaying various cash amounts of cash and gifts including fridges, television sets, mobile phones and bread they say were given them on the day on the elections by some of the candidates.

There are also reports of many of the candidates and delegates complaining of irregularities.

The party’s Deputy Director of Elections, Rashid Tanko-Computer, said the NDC would examine complaints of misconduct provided credible evidence was presented to the National Executives. “If somebody has any evidence of that and it’s brought to the notice of the National Executives, why not? We’ll take notice of it,” he stated.

Tanko-Computer, however, maintained that the Party had not observed any incidents of vote-buying in areas where the elections had been conducted, describing the exercise as largely peaceful. ‌

The assurance comes amid reports of violence that marred the process in several constituencies. In Sefwi Akontombra in the Western North Region, police fired multiple gunshots after a suspected ‘machoman’ allegedly snatched ballot papers during the elections. The incident disrupted voting, and the suspect was subsequently arrested.

In Odododiodioo in the Greater Accra Region, sorting and counting were suspended after violence erupted shortly after voting ended. The situation was later calmed after party officials intervened, allowing the process to resume. ‌ ‌ ‌

Allegations of vote-buying also featured prominently, including Suhum in the Eastern Region, where candidates were accused of distributing refrigerators, clothing, money, and other items to influence delegates.

The Secretary-General of the Ghana Federation of Labour, Abraham Koomson, described the reports as “troubling” and warned that such practices could undermine the country’s democratic development.

In Bimbilla in the Northern Region and Wa Central in the Upper West Region, police arrested several delegates for allegedly photographing their marked ballots, a practice widely linked to vote-buying and intimidation. ‌ ‌

The elections, which saw party members across the country vote to elect constituency executives, is a critical step in strengthening the NDC’s grassroots structures and would be a prelude to its Regional Executive elections before the National Executive elections.

While Tanko-Computer acknowledged challenges in some constituencies, he urged aggrieved contestants to exhaust the NDC’s internal dispute-resolution mechanisms before escalating their concerns.