The Supreme Court has, by a 5–2 majority decision, ruled that all registered political party members in good standing must be permitted to vote in the election of party leaders and parliamentary candidates.
This landmark judgement effectively dismantles the long-standing delegate system utilised by Ghana’s major political parties, establishing a “one member, one vote” framework for all internal party elections.
The ruling is set to fundamentally reshape party organisation and the execution of future presidential, parliamentary, and executive primaries nationwide.
Delivering its decision on Wednesday, July 29, the seven-member panel concluded a high-profile constitutional suit that had sparked fierce legal and political debate over the scope of democratic participation within political parties.
The action was initiated 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 contended that restricting voting rights to a select group of delegates breached the core democratic principles enshrined in Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.
For decades, major political organisations—including the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and the Convention People’s Party (CPP)—have relied on delegate-based electoral colleges.
Under that framework, voting was restricted to designated party executives, constituency officers, and accredited delegates, excluding the vast majority of card-bearing members from directly selecting their leadership.
The plaintiffs argued that this arrangement fostered inequality by concentrating electoral power within a privileged minority. They submitted that because political parties are public-facing institutions recognised under Article 55 of the Constitution, they are legally bound to operate democratically, making broad membership participation a constitutional mandate.
Backing the challenge, the Attorney-General’s Department also urged the Apex Court to mandate a “one member, one vote” model.
The State argued that because political parties perform a vital public function within the country’s governance structure, their internal processes must align with constitutional guarantees of equality and universal suffrage. The State added that extending franchise rights to all members in good standing would heighten internal accountability and strengthen party democracy.
Consequent to the ruling, the Court granted declarations that delegate-based provisions in the constitutions of the NPP, NDC, CPP, and other registered parties are unconstitutional.
The decision places an immediate obligation on political parties to amend their electoral regulations, whilst directing the Electoral Commission to ensure strict compliance with the Constitution and the Political Parties Act moving forward.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
