The Supreme Court has scheduled July 29, 2026, to deliver its judgment in a suit challenging the delegates voting system used by political parties in Ghana.
The case was filed by a group of civil society organisations (CSOs) led by former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng.
The plaintiffs are seeking a declaration that the current delegates system employed by political parties in selecting their leaders and presidential candidates is unconstitutional and inconsistent with democratic principles.
The plaintiffs argue that restricting voting rights to a select group of delegates disenfranchises the broader membership of political parties and undermines participatory democracy.
They contend that all registered members of political parties should have the opportunity to vote in internal elections, including presidential and parliamentary primaries.
The suit names key state institutions, including the Attorney-General and other relevant bodies, as respondents. The CSOs are asking the apex court to compel political parties to adopt a more inclusive voting system that allows the entire membership to participate in the selection of party leaders and candidates.
At the hearing, lawyers for the parties presented their final arguments, after which the Supreme Court reserved judgment and fixed July 29 for its ruling.
The outcome of the case is expected to have far-reaching implications for Ghana’s political landscape, particularly for the country’s major political parties, which rely heavily on delegates conferences to elect national executives and choose presidential candidates.
Background
The delegates system has long been a feature of internal elections within Ghana’s political parties, including the governing New Patriotic Party and the opposition National Democratic Congress. Under the arrangement, only accredited delegates drawn from various party structures are allowed to vote during primaries and leadership contests.
Critics of the system have argued that it concentrates power in the hands of a relatively small number of delegates, making internal elections susceptible to vote-buying and undue influence.
Proponents, however, maintain that the system is practical and helps political parties manage the cost and logistics associated with conducting nationwide internal elections involving all members.
The Supreme Court’s impending ruling is therefore expected to clarify whether the delegates system is compatible with Ghana’s constitutional provisions on democratic participation and freedom of association.
SOURCE: JEFFERY MAWUTOR ATTIPOE, MAVIS FANTEVI
