The Supreme Court has delivered a landmark ruling that could fundamentally reshape internal politics in Ghana, declaring that all registered members in good standing of political parties must be allowed to vote in the election of party leaders and candidates.
The 5–2 majority decision, delivered on Wednesday, effectively ends the delegate system that has defined internal elections within Ghana's major political parties for decades.
The judgement is expected to force sweeping constitutional reforms within political parties ahead of future presidential, parliamentary and national executive contests.
Court backs broader participation
A seven-member panel handed down the decision after hearing a constitutional challenge brought by former Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, veteran politician Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe and former Lands and Forestry Minister Dr Christine Amoako-Nuamah.
The plaintiffs argued that limiting voting rights to selected delegates denied ordinary party members equal participation and conflicted with the democratic principles enshrined in the 1992 Constitution.
Their case centred on the argument that political parties, recognised under Article 55 of the Constitution, are required to organise and operate according to democratic standards.
For years, parties including the New Patriotic Party, the National Democratic Congress and the Convention People's Party have relied on delegate conferences to elect presidential candidates, parliamentary candidates and national executives.
Under that arrangement, voting power rested with party executives, constituency officers and accredited delegates rather than the broader party membership.
Delegate system declared unconstitutional
The Attorney-General's Department supported the challenge, urging the court to adopt a one member, one vote model.
According to the state, political parties perform a vital public role within Ghana's democratic system and should therefore reflect constitutional values of equality, participation and universal suffrage in their internal electoral processes.
The plaintiffs had asked the court to declare the delegate provisions contained in the constitutions of the NPP, NDC and CPP unconstitutional. They also sought orders directing the parties to amend their constitutions to guarantee equal participation for all members in good standing.
In addition, they requested that the Electoral Commission ensure political party constitutions comply with the Constitution and the Political Parties Act.
The ruling is expected to have far-reaching implications for how political parties organise internal elections, expanding voting rights from a relatively small group of delegates to potentially hundreds of thousands of registered members across the country.
It also sets the stage for significant changes to party constitutions as Ghana prepares for future internal contests.
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