Ghana's Supreme Court has saved the country substantial financial resources by striking down the delegate system used by political parties. This system previously governed the election of presidential and parliamentary candidates. The ruling prevents the need for a costly national referendum, which would have been necessary to amend entrenched constitutional provisions.
Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh, Executive Director of the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), welcomed the Supreme Court's decision. He stated that the ruling pre-empted an expensive constitutional amendment process. The delegate system had been criticised for undermining internal party democracy and encouraging corruption during political primaries.
This judicial intervention aligns with broader efforts to strengthen Ghana's democratic institutions and improve governance. The cost savings from avoiding a national referendum are particularly relevant given Ghana's ongoing fiscal consolidation efforts. Such referendums typically involve significant logistical and administrative expenses, diverting funds from other critical public services.
Professor Prempeh, speaking on Woezor TV on Sunday, August 2, confirmed the financial benefit. He said, "At least I am happy that the court has pre-empted it because it saved us some money." He further explained that changing entrenched provisions usually requires a referendum. The court's decision, therefore, saved Ghana "quite a bit of money actually."
The CDD-Ghana had long advocated for the abolition of the delegate system. Their recommendation to scrap the system predated the legal challenge that led to the Supreme Court's ruling. Professor Prempeh noted that the organisation's stance was not influenced by any pending lawsuit at the time.
While delegate-based elections exist in some countries, CDD-Ghana concluded that Ghana's experience with the system had become detrimental. It negatively impacted democratic governance and fostered an environment where money influenced political outcomes. The organisation proposed replacing it with a one-member, one-vote system.
This proposed change aims to strengthen participation and reduce the influence of money in party elections. Professor Prempeh stated, "We took the position that, to advance our democracy, we needed to move beyond the delegate system to a one-person, one-vote within the parties." This shift would empower individual party members and potentially lead to more representative candidate selections.
The Supreme Court's decision marks a significant development in Ghana's political landscape. It underscores the judiciary's role in safeguarding public funds and promoting democratic principles. Future political party primaries will now operate under a different framework, potentially reducing the financial burden on aspirants and increasing transparency.
Observers will watch how political parties adapt to this new ruling. The shift to a one-member, one-vote system could reshape internal party dynamics and candidate selection processes. This change is expected to foster greater accountability and reduce opportunities for vote-buying within political parties.