The MP for Ayawaso West Wuogon and parliamentary candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Lydia Seyram Alhassan, has come under scrutiny for her decision to distribute food to voters during the special voting exercise on Monday, 2 December 2024. In a viral video that circulated online, Alhassan and the NPP’s constituency women’s organiser were seen distributing packs of food in white bags to prison officers queuing to cast their ballots at the Legon Police Station.
The gesture sparked controversy, with opposition NDC’s parliamentary candidate, John Dumelo, criticizing the act and vowing to confront Alhassan. Despite the backlash, Alhassan defended her actions during an interview with Accra-based Citi FM on Tuesday, 3 December. She explained that the food packs were originally intended for her agents at the polling station, but when some voters requested food, they decided to provide it out of kindness.
Alhassan emphasized that the gesture was done with good intentions and was not driven by any malicious intent. She pointed out that sharing food at polling stations is a common practice among political parties in the country, including both the NPP and NDC. Alhassan questioned why her actions should be used against her when it was a standard practice employed by all major parties.
Regarding the legality of her actions, Alhassan revealed that the incident is currently under investigation by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP). Despite the ongoing investigation, she accused Dumelo of making continuous attacks on her integrity in an attempt to gain political advantage in the upcoming elections.
Despite the controversy, Alhassan reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring peaceful elections in the constituency during the 7 December polls. She emphasized the importance of maintaining a fair and transparent electoral process, pledging to uphold the principles of democracy and respect for all voters.
In conclusion, while the distribution of food at polling stations may be a common practice during elections, the incident involving Alhassan has sparked debate and raised questions about the ethical implications of such actions. As the political landscape heats up ahead of the elections, it remains to be seen how this controversy will impact the outcome in Ayawaso West Wuogon.
