Special Voting: Lydia Alhassan Explains Food Distribution Was by Request

The Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon, Lydia Seyram Alhassan, has defended her actions after a video surfaced showing her and her constituency women’s organizer distributing food to voters during the Special Voting exercise on Monday, December 2, 2024.

Lydia Alhassan Seen Sharing Food

The incident, which took place at the Legon Police Station polling center, sparked public discussions about electoral ethics and potential voter influence. In the video, the MP is seen handing out food packages to individuals in the voting queue.

Speaking on Citi FM’s Breakfast Show with Bernard Avle on Tuesday, December 3, Lydia Alhassan denied any wrongdoing, insisting her intentions were purely compassionate.

She explained that it all started when someone in the queue requested water. Her women’s organizer provided the water, and noticing others who seemed tired or hungry, the MP extended the gesture further.

“I noticed there were some people who might need food, so after serving my people, I decided to help those in the queue who looked in need,” she clarified. “Did you see me handing food to people directly? The lady with me initially gave water to someone who requested it, and she ended up sharing it with others who also needed it.”

Critics, including her political rival John Dumelo, questioned whether the act could be interpreted as an attempt to sway voters.

Lydia Alhassan rejected these accusations, explaining that her presence at the polling station was strictly to oversee the process as a stakeholder.

“As a stakeholder, I needed to monitor the voting process to ensure everything was on track,” she said. “We brought food specifically for our agents and also shared some with media personnel present. The goal was to support those helping facilitate the voting.”

She also addressed claims that she denied the incident, explaining that she was initially unaware of the video.

“After I left, I was told about an incident I wasn’t present for. Later, I saw the video where my opponents were calling me names,” she added.

The controversy has added fuel to the ongoing public debate surrounding ethical conduct during elections.