The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Chairman for Awutu Senya West and political strategist, Captain Kojo Anderson, has shared his views on the election of Lawyer Baba Jamal as the party’s parliamentary candidate for the Ayawaso East constituency, following allegations of vote buying during the party’s primaries.
Captain Anderson’s comments come in response to a recent article by Young Progressive Network (YPN), which criticised the conduct surrounding the election.
In an exclusive interview with the reporter, Captain Anderson using a military analogy, explained that during training, recruits are often aware that the food provided is insufficient, compelling them to find alternative means to survive.
However, he noted that openly leaving camp to buy food is a known offence and attracts punishment—not because survival is forbidden, but because it is done openly in violation of established rules.
Applying this analogy to the controversy, he argued that the core issue was not the act itself, but the decision to carry it out publicly.
According to him, Baba Jamal’s public remarks on gift-giving during the primaries amounted to an admission that insulted public intelligence.“When Baba Jamal was asked about vote buying and responded by asking who does not give gifts, he crossed a line,” Captain Anderson said. “Once you justify it publicly, you cannot rebrand it as a ‘gift’. That is an attempt to give vote buying a new name.”He questioned why, if the items distributed were genuine gifts, they were not given openly to all constituents rather than selectively to certain individuals. “Gifts are not distributed secretly or selectively under political conditions,” he added, stressing that such actions move beyond generosity into inducement.
Captain Anderson acknowledged that no politician could claim absolute moral purity but maintained that actions traditionally carried out discreetly should not be openly displayed and justified as sincerity.
“There are things people do behind closed doors. Bringing them into the full glare of the cameras and calling it honesty does not make them acceptable,” he said.
He emphasised that the issue was not opposition to gift-giving itself, but the public perception of vote buying, which he argued must not be legitimised or institutionalised.
On the question of sanctions, Captain Anderson stated that for the sake of discipline and decency within the party, Baba Jamal should face punishment. However, he noted that the nature of such punishment required careful consideration.He pointed out that reports of some traditional leaders and community members opposing any annulment of the election underscored the complexity of the matter.
According to him, the same people who allegedly benefited from the inducements are unlikely to view the situation as wrongdoing and would still support the candidate if a fresh election were held.“If the election is annulled, the same voters—who were beneficiaries—will vote again. Will they suddenly become reformed? We must be careful with our assumptions,” he cautioned.
Captain Anderson also remarked that Baba Jamal succeeded in influencing voters, whether through fair or questionable means, to secure victory.Highlighting what he described as political hypocrisy, he likened the situation to the biblical principle that all have sinned, yet some face imprisonment while others walk free. He warned against selective moral outrage, stressing the need for consistency in addressing political misconduct.
Touching on the involvement of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), Captain Anderson noted that the institution was merely acting in accordance with the law.
He added that while public confidence in institutions such as the police may be low, enforcement agencies are bound to follow legal procedures rather than public sentiment.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com
