Deputy Director of Elections and IT for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Rashid Tanko-Computer, has accused the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of failing to condemn money politics during elections or primaries within its ranks, insisting that the opposition party has institutionalised the practice.
According to him, the phenomenon of monetisation in internal party elections dates back to the early 2000s and started with the NPP under the leadership of former president John Agyekum Kufuor.
Speaking on TV3 on February 11 and monitored by NewsDesksGH, Tanko Computer said, “This matter started around 2001 thereabout. This moneycracy and all that. As soon as his excellency President Kufuor came into office, they started this moneycracy matter.“
He argued that while the issue has become widespread, the difference lies in how political parties respond to it.
“NDC is now facing it head on. We are saying that we will deal with that matter. Don’t forget, they had their election 31st this January, and it was live publicly, the delegates were there, showing money and saying that others had not brought their money. Did you see any one line statement from NPP national executives condemning that action.”
Dr. Tanko-Computer further maintained that the National Democratic Congress has taken steps to address concerns about vote-buying within its own ranks, earning public commendation for confronting the issue.
“Ghanaians are now praising the NDC for being truthful and facing the matter. The NDC, head on were saying that we’ve seen it, we’re going to deal with it and even formed a committee to deal into the matter.”
Referring again to the New Patriotic Party, he added, “This is a political party that elected a presidential candidate that was bedevilled with moneycracy, monetisation publicly, and everybody was talking about it. They didn’t see anything wrong with it.”
His comments come in the wake of the controversy surrounding the Ayawaso East parliamentary primary of the National Democratic Congress held on February 7, 2026.
The primary, which was organised to select a candidate for the upcoming March 3 by-election following the death of Member of Parliament Mahama Naser Toure, was overshadowed by allegations of vote-buying and inducement.
Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed, Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria at the time, emerged winner of the primary but faced intense public scrutiny after videos and reports alleged that delegates received items including 32-inch television sets and other inducements.
President John Dramani Mahama subsequently recalled Baba Jamal from his diplomatic post pending investigations.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor also launched a probe into the alleged electoral malpractice, while sections of the public and political actors called for the annulment of the results.
However, on February 10, 2026, Baba Jamal was cleared by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Functional Executive Committee (FEC) to contest the Ayawaso East parliamentary by-election in March following an internal investigation into the allegations.
