Ghana’s ruling National Democratic Congress has directed government appointees who plan to contest party positions to resign at least six months before filing nomination forms.
General Secretary Fifi Fiavi Kwetey said Thursday the decision was approved by the National Executive Committee in line with the party’s constitution and newly adopted election guidelines. “Pursuant to Article 54 of the party’s constitution, the National Executive Committee has approved the following general provisions under Section H of the guidelines for the elections,” he said.
Kwetey explained that the rule applies to those holding offices appointed by the president or government. “Any person seeking to contest for a party position who currently holds an office to which he or she was appointed by the President or the government must resign from that office at least six clear months before filing nomination forms,” he said.
He noted that not all office holders are affected. “Chairpersons or members of boards or persons in an analogous position are exempt from this restriction. That is because they are not full-time employees. Those who are full-time employees are affected,” Kwetey said.
The directive covers ministers, deputy ministers, chief executive officers, managing directors and their deputies, as well as metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives. Kwetey said the official guidelines have now been made public. “Now the official guidelines for the elections will, from today, be made public, so all of you will be able to have access to them,” he announced.
He outlined deadlines for resignations: April 2026 for constituency-level aspirants, May 2026 for regional contests and June 2026 for national positions. “These provisions are firm, constitutional, and we will enforce them without exception. So please don’t even bother to come and see whether you can plead to be exempted, because there is no plea in this matter,” Kwetey said.
