Africans don’t vote on issues – Asantehene

The Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu has observed that Africans do not vote on issues but rather on "nepotism and small favours".

In his view, the situation has ultimately affected the development of the continent.

Speaking at a lecture in the UK Parliament as part of a book launch, the Asante monarch said it is regrettable to admit, also, that elections in Africa are often fraught with fraud.

“Voters in Africa don’t vote on issues but on small favours and nepotism... Elections on the continent have been abused and characterized by fraud but with the social media, which provides freedom of speech,” Otumfuo said.

He noted that elections and their outcomes on the continent could be improved if the electorates take time to scrutinize the policies and programs of political parties.

The comments by the King comes on the heels of the upcoming December 7, elections in Ghana. Ghanaian elections have often been riddled with allegations of vote buying and voter-inducement.