Boakye Kyeremateng Agyarko is former Minister of Energy
Former Minister of Energy Boakye Kyeremateng Agyarko has condemned the growing trend of money influencing decisions in politics and church leadership, calling it a shameful practice that must stop.
Speaking to the media after casting his ballot in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) primaries on Saturday, January 31, 2026, he stated, “In our politics, we’ve monetized decisions. That’s a very unfortunate evolution, not just in the NPP, but across the entire political spectrum in this country.”
He stressed that the issue extends beyond politics, noting that financial influence has even infiltrated church elections.
“I’ve even heard that in some churches, when they elect elders, money changes hands. That’s a shame to all of us. It must stop,” he remarked.
Agyarko called for checks and reforms to address the issue.
“After today, we will have ample opportunity to examine this phenomenon and put in place methods, checks, and balances to curtail this shameful practice. We don’t want it as a party, and as a nation, it’s not healthy. Once money starts changing hands from the bottom, it climbs all the way up and feeds back,” he explained.
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He warned that monetization undermines commitment, devotion, and national development.
“Serving a party is an act of commitment and devotion. Once that is lost, the party is lost. Building a nation is an act of sacrifice, devotion, and commitment. Once that is lost, your nation is also lost. We must speak up to eliminate or minimize this practice or make those who indulge in it feel so guilty that it is driven underground,” he added.
Over 211,000 delegates are expected to take part in the presidential primary to elect the party’s flagbearer.
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Five aspirants are contesting the race: former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, former Minister for Food and Agriculture Dr Bryan Acheampong, former Minister of Education Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, former NPP General Secretary Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, and former Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong.
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