Agbodza On Vote-Buying In NDC Polls: This Is Not the Rawlings Party

Roads and Highways Minister Kwame Governs Agbodza has condemned vote-buying in the National Democratic Congress’s internal elections, saying some of what he witnessed “is not the Rawlings party”.

He made the statement on Saturday, 14th November, 2026, during the party’s Volta Regional delegates’ conference, as the NDC elected new regional executives nationwide.

“I have never paid a cedi to anybody in Adaklu,” Mr Agbodza said, speaking about past branch and constituency elections in his own constituency.

He explained that he had always won his internal elections without sharing money, and he was troubled by what he saw this time.

“At the past elections, we saw things like that happen,” he said.

“Yesterday, I saw things that I actually thought were NPP people doing it,” he added.

According to him, the practice of giving money to delegates to win votes is becoming common in the NDC, and it is destroying the values the party was built on.

“Today, you may be happy about it,” he said.

“I am saying what I saw yesterday across the region, across the country. This is not the Rawlings party,” Mr Agbodza said.

“Let’s reflect on it, and let’s make amendments.”

He said he was ready to speak out, whether or not it made him popular with his colleagues. He urged the party to own up to practices that could damage its reputation, and to correct them quickly.

Mr Agbodza’s comments come after National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia also urged the police to act on vote-buying during the internal polls.

Mr Asiedu Nketia said the party cannot preach against vote-buying in national elections while tolerating it in its own internal elections.

The polls have also produced disputes in some regions. In the Central Region, Richard Asiedu has rejected the result and threatened court action, while several long-serving regional chairmen lost their seats across the country.

His comments have sparked serious debate online. Many NDC supporters say they agree with him, and they say vote-buying is destroying internal democracy and rewarding rich candidates instead of competent ones.

Others say the practice has been going on for years in all parties, and it will be difficult to stop unless the party takes strong action.

Some Ghanaians also say Mr Agbodza is brave for speaking out, and they want the NDC leadership to punish anyone caught buying votes.

Supporters of the NDC say the elections were largely peaceful, and the party should focus on unity ahead of future elections.

Mr Agbodza insisted that the NDC must return to its founding principles of probity, accountability, and service. He said if the party continues to allow money to decide its internal elections, it will lose the trust of Ghanaians.

Quophi Piloloo feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com