Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Emmanuel Victor Smith, has called on citizens to uphold ethical leadership and reject transactional politics, stressing that the strength of the nation’s democracy rests on integrity both at the ballot box and in public office. His remarks follow reports that delegates in the National Democratic Congress parliamentary primary at Ayawaso East on Saturday, February 7, were offered 32-inch television sets by the campaign team of aspirant Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed in exchange for votes. Addressing the issue on Monday, February 9, 2026, Mr. Smith cautioned that political corruption often takes root during campaigns, when gifts, money, or favours are used to sway voters.
“Inducements erode accountability, while offering them destroys integrity,” he remarked. “If we are committed to genuine leadership, both voters and politicians must reject the politics of gifts and embrace the politics of conscience.” Ambassador Smith underscored that governance is inseparable from the conduct of elections. “Elections must never be reduced to auctions. A tainted mandate inevitably produces tainted governance. Public office should never be treated as a business enterprise profiting from the hardship of citizens,” he added.
He warned that such practices not only distort electoral outcomes but also lay the groundwork for systemic corruption after office is assumed. He further appealed to law enforcement agencies to take decisive action against any form of inducement to voters, urging Ghanaians to uphold the principle that democracy should be guided by conscience rather than material incentives.
Source: William Narh
