Mark Ewusi, Convenor of Election Watch Ghana and National Youth Organizer for the People’s National Convention (PNC), has petitioned the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to investigate allegations of bribery during the recent Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting held by the Electoral Commission on October 1.
Ewusi claims that money was distributed to select representatives of participating parties just minutes before the meeting began, alleging that he personally received GHC3,000. He stated that this money was provided by an executive of the Liberal Party of Ghana.
Speaking to journalists after filing the petition, Ewusi emphasized that sharing money during an IPAC meeting is unprecedented and called for an investigation to understand the motives behind the alleged distribution of funds, which he believes was intended to influence the participants’ decisions.
“People are not happy that I am going to petition the Special Prosecutor, but our democracy cannot be reduced to this level,” he remarked.
In response, Jerry Apaw, the General Secretary of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG) and the individual implicated in distributing the money, explained that he provided the funds to Ewusi after he requested financial assistance for his family’s rent.
Apaw noted he has not been contacted by the OSP for questioning and expressed disappointment at Ewusi’s allegations, stating, “This is why people go through difficult times, and nobody helps them.”
He added, “I don’t even know how much I gave to him because I just dipped my hands in my pocket and gave him what I brought out.”
The IPAC meeting involved ten political parties and focused on the National Democratic Congress’ petition for a forensic audit of the provisional voters register.
While eight parties opposed the NDC’s request, two supported it.
The Electoral Commission’s discussions with the political parties were broadcasted on television.
