Ex-MP Aspirant Reveals: “We Buy Coffins for Bereaved Delegates” in Ghana’s Politicized Elections
Private legal practitioner and former New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary aspirant for Abuakwa in 2016 and 2024, Mrs. Gloria Ofori-Boadu, has candidly admitted that the monetization of Ghanaian politics is rampant, with candidates like herself compelled to provide financial support—including purchasing coffins for bereaved delegates—to secure votes during campaigns.
In a candid revelation on TV3’s Agenda program on October 14, 2025, Ofori-Boadu described the practice as an inevitable response to the “family-like” relationships built with delegates. “During the campaign, the delegates became like family, so some of them who were bereaved we helped them buy coffins and payment of school fees as well as general family and household bills,” she disclosed, estimating the expenditure as “quite a lot” with daily requests.
Ofori-Boadu, who unsuccessfully contested NPP primaries twice, asserted that elections in Ghana are won by the “highest bidder,” stating, “In Ghana, all the time, the highest bidder always wins. That is the norm.” Her comments echo a September 15, 2025, warning by CDD-Ghana Executive Director Prof. H. Kwasi Prempeh, who estimated a $200 million cost to win the presidency, excluding competent candidates without deep pockets. Prempeh cautioned that such trends preserve politics for the wealthy, jeopardizing democracy’s inclusivity and sustainability.
The discussion highlights ongoing concerns about campaign financing, with civil society groups like CDD-Ghana advocating for stricter regulations to promote fairness and accountability
