The Queen Mother of Ho-Dome in the Asogli Traditional Area in the Volta Region, Mama Atrato II, has made explosive allegations of widespread vote-buying in Ghana's Council of State election, claiming some delegates accepted GH¢5,000 each in exchange for their votes during the selection process in the Volta Region. Speaking at the JoyNews' Impact Makers Foundation "Democracy Is Not for Sale" public forum held in Ho on Friday, July 31, the traditional leader described her experience as a former Council of State aspirant in the Volta Region as deeply disappointing, arguing that money has become the determining factor in securing public office rather than competence or commitment to public service. According to her, the monetisation of the electoral process has deprived the Volta Region of effective representation and contributed to its slow pace of development. When I went to bother myself to stand for Council of State [election], what is happening there is so pathetic...