Engineer and Policy Analyst, Michael Kosi Dedey, has described remarks made by the Member of Parliament for Asutifi South, Collins Dauda, during the Akwatia by-election as “irresponsible.” Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, Mr. Dedey addressed the issue of vote-buying, noting that many constituents demand money before casting their ballots because they believe they will see no development once the elections are over. He linked this perception to a comment made by Collins Dauda, which he argued reinforces voters’ inclination to accept money. “We will tell these politicians in the face that if you don’t give me money, I won’t be voting because when you get elected, there is nothing you would do for me. Marry this against the comment made by Alhaji Collins Dauda, where he says if the people don’t vote, he will stop, if he were the president, the developmental projects — such an irresponsible comment. “Now, you hear a senior politician making such a comment, what do you think the voter will also tell himself? If the man doesn’t give money, I am not going to vote,” Dedey said. Mr. Dauda, in an interview at Akwatia during the by-election, told journalists that development in the area hinged on voters’ support for the NDC candidate, Lawyer Bernard Bediako Baidoo. “We want to help build Akwatia and bring development here. If you speak to any of the residents here, they will tell you that many of their developments happened when the NDC was in government… and the NPP hasn’t done anything for Akwatia. “So, the people believe that with the NDC in power, they are going to have development; therefore, they should have an NDC MP,” he stated.