Ghana's Supreme Court has abolished the political party delegate system for selecting presidential and parliamentary candidates. This landmark ruling, delivered on July 29, 2026, requires all political parties to adopt a mass electoral system, allowing all members in good standing to participate in candidate selection.
The decision aims to deepen internal party democracy, accountability, and inclusiveness. Legal practitioners, governance experts, and political party officials have widely welcomed the ruling. They believe it will make leadership choices more reflective of the broader party membership's will.
This judicial intervention comes amidst growing concerns about the influence of money in politics and the perceived exclusion of ordinary party members from key decisions. The delegate system has often been criticized for concentrating power in the hands of a few, leading to a lack of accountability from aspiring leaders to the wider party base. This ruling aligns with broader efforts to strengthen democratic institutions and processes in Ghana.
Victor Kwadjoga Adawudu, a legal practitioner and member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Legal and Communications Team, stated the decision would compel aspiring leaders to engage with the entire party membership. He noted that leaders will now have to account to the entire party community for their performance, rather than focusing on a limited number of delegates. Dr. Kojo Pumpuni Asante, a governance expert, described the ruling as a significant step towards strengthening Ghana's democracy.
The ruling has significant implications for political parties, which now face the challenge of reforming their internal structures. Parties have one year to amend their constitutions and electoral processes to comply with the court's directive. This transition will likely involve substantial logistical and financial adjustments, as managing elections for a larger membership base will increase costs.
Joyce Larbie, First Vice Chairperson of the Convention People's Party (CPP), confirmed her party fully accepts the judgment. She stated the CPP will amend its constitution and internal electoral processes within the one-year timeframe. Mrs. Larbie acknowledged that expanding the electoral college to include all party members would increase the cost of organizing internal elections. She reiterated the CPP's long-held position that the state should finance internal political party elections to ensure transparency and reduce the influence of money.
Mr. Adawudu also highlighted the need for parties to review their structures to accommodate broader participation while managing the increased cost of internal elections. Dr. Asante proposed establishing a Democracy Fund, implementing expenditure caps on campaign spending, and Electoral Commission supervision of internal party elections. He argued that state financing would enhance transparency and reduce the growing influence of money in politics. The Supreme Court held that restricting candidate selection to delegates infringed the constitutional political rights of party members, underscoring the importance of this ruling for Ghana's democratic future.