Ablekuma North Re-run: Providing Transport To Voters Is Not Vote Buying- Linda Ocloo

Greater Accra Minister, Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, has denied allegations that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Ablekuma North, Ewurabena Aubynn, is engaging in vote-buying during the ongoing rerun elections.

Speaking to the media, she explained that what people describe as “vote-buying” is not vote buying, it is rather “T&T” to voters, sometimes for transportation.  “People have to come and vote, so if such people come, you have to give them the T&T to go and vote. I do not think that is vote buying,” she said. “If you think that is vote buying, you can also go and buy their vote. It’s as simple as that.” She stated.

She also explained that the support is targeted at known party loyalists who have already committed to voting for the NDC.“If someone is loyal to you, why wouldn’t such a person vote for you with or without money? I do not think giving the person transportation is going to affect the integrity,” she noted.

According to her, she shared her contact details on Max TV and received several calls from voters, some from as far as Tarkwa and Kumasi, seeking help to travel to their polling stations. “I told them that when they come, they should give me a call for their T&T. We are not giving out money. I am saying that we are supporting them with their T&T,” she emphasized.

She added that people who call for money for transportation are NDC and people also call the NPP officials for T&Ts as well.