NDC’s Juliana Kinang-Wassan Under Scrutiny For Possible Bribery

A defeated aspirant in National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s Ejura Sekyedumase Constituency Parliamentary Primary, Madam Juliana Kinang-Wassan, is under multiple scrutinies for possible vote-buying charges.

This comes after the aspirant was seen in a viral video spraying money on delegates at a voting ground in the Ashanti region on Saturday. Reports indicate that the money ranged from GHC10 to GHc100.

Despite this, she lost the primary.

The Ghana Police Service and the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) are both assessing the video.

In a statement on Saturday, the Police Service said its attention had been “drawn to a viral video in which Madam Juliana Kinang-Wassan, one of the Parliamentary aspirants for the Ejura Sekyedumase Constituency, is seen spraying money at a crowd during the elections at Ejura Sekyedumase, in the Ashanti Region.

“A dedicated legal team is currently scrutinising her conduct in the video to establish whether there are elements of the election-related crime to warrant Police intervention or otherwise.”

The OSP on the hand has reportedly invited her for questioning.

“You are directed to attend the Office of the Special Prosecutor at 6 Haile Selassie Avenue, South Ridge, Accra on Thursday, May 18, 2023, at 10 am for interviewing. You may be accompanied by counsel of your choice,” a portion of the letter to the defeated aspirant is quoted as saying.

Section 33 of the Representation of the People Law of the 1992 constitution of Ghana criminalises vote buying.

It states that (1) A person commits the offence of bribery –
(a) if he directly, or acting through another person –
(i) gives money, or obtains an office for a voter in order to induce the voter to vote, or refrain from voting; or
(ii) corruptly does such an act on account of a voter having voted, or restrained from voting; or
(iii) makes a gift, or provides something of value to a voter to induce the voter to vote in a certain way, or to obtain the election of a candidate; or

b) if he advances, or pays money, or causes money to be paid to, or for the use of a person, with the intent that the money, or part of it shall be expended in bribery at an election, or knowingly pays money, or causes money to be paid to a person in discharge, or repayment of money wholly, or in part expended in bribery at an election; or

(c) if, before or during an election he directly or indirectly, by himself or through another person acting on his behalf, receives, agrees, or contracts for money, gift, a loan or valuable consideration, or an office, place or employment for himself, or for another person for voting, or agreeing to vote, or for refraining, or agreeing to refrain from voting; or

(d) if after an election he directly, or through another person receives money, or valuable consideration on account of a person having voted, or refrained from voting, or having induced another person to vote, or to refrain from voting.