A defeated parliamentary aspirant in Ghana, Juliana Kinang Wassan, has come under police scrutiny after choosing to openly spray money on voters during a parliamentary primary held by the opposition National Democratic Congress in the Ejura-Sekyedumase constituency.
The Ghana Police Service announced the formation of “a dedicated legal team” to investigate a viral video in which the young lady was caught spraying cash at a polling site.
In the heat of the election in the Ejura Sekyedumase Constituency on Saturday, Juliana Kinang Wassan was captured on video throwing wads of cash from the roof of her car, causing a melee amongst ecstatic delegates.
In a statement following the end of polling, the Ghana Police Service said a legal team is studying the video to establish whether there are elements of election-related crime that warrant police intervention or otherwise.
“The attention of the Police Service has been drawn to a viral video in which Madam Juliana Kinang-Wassan, one of the parliamentary aspirants for the Ejura Sekyedumase Constituency, is seen spraying money at a crowd during the elections at Ejura Sekyedumase, in the Ashanti Region,” the statement read.
“A dedicated legal team is currently scrutinizing her conduct in the video to establish whether there are elements of election-related crime to warrant police intervention or otherwise.”
The Police would like to assure the public of its commitment towards ensuring peace, security, law, and order at all times.”
The lady arrived in a convoy of vehicles with delegates trooping towards her. Coming out of the roof of the 4×4 car she was riding, she pulled wads of cedi notes and threw them into the crowd to their excitement.
Reports indicate that the notes that were seen flying in the air ranged from as little as five cedi notes to as much as a hundred cedi notes.
She however lost the election to the incumbent Member of Parliament Muhammad Bawa Brimah, who won the contest with over 400 votes.
She came fourth in the race with 216 votes while the winner garnered 684 votes as the second placed candidate had 265.
Meanwhile Juliana Kinang Wassan also faces sanctions from the party following her conduct, which has received widespread condemnation.
A member of the NDC legal team, Nii Kpakpo Samoa Addo, who saw the video on Citi TV, called on the party to immediately sanction the MP aspirant. He condemned the behavior of Kinang-Wassan, adding that her conduct amounted to vote-buying and influencing delegates at the voting center.
He added that the conduct of the MP could have led to a stampede, resulting in the loss of lives at the center.
Below is the full results
Hon Muhammad Bawa Brimah: 684
Hon. Kombat Suuk Paul: 265
Dr Awal Asaad: 226
Juliana kinang wassan: 216
Hon Mohammed Shisu Tamimu: 63