Government backs push to scrap delegate system as constitutional battle looms
For three decades, the path to Parliament or Flagstaff House for Ghana’s politicians has run through a small room of party delegates. That could soon change.
The Government of Ghana has formally backed a landmark constitutional challenge now before the Supreme Court that seeks to abolish the delegate system used by political parties for internal primaries. The suit argues that restricting internal elections to a few thousand selected delegates violates the constitutional right to political participation.
If successful, every registered party member in good standing would be entitled to vote in primaries to elect parliamentary and presidential candidates. Call it “One Member, One Vote” or OMOV.
THE THREE PETITIONERS
The case, Frimpong-Boateng & Others v. Attorney General & Others, was filed by three prominent citizens who say the delegate system undermines internal democracy:
1. Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng – The renowned cardiothoracic surgeon and former Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation. He has been a long-time advocate for governance reform and has previously criticized monetization in internal party contests.
2. Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe – A founding member of the NPP, retired military officer, and statesman. He has publicly called for reforms to the delegate system for years, arguing it concentrates power in the hands of a few.
3. Dr. Christian Nuamah – Former Minister, A governance and public policy expert who has written extensively on political party financing and internal democracy. He represents the civil society dimension of the suit.
The petitioners are asking the Supreme Court to declare that Articles 55(5) and 21(3) of the 1992 Constitution require political parties to extend voting rights in primaries to all dues-paying members.
Deputy Attorney General Yaa Oforiwaa confirmed government’s support in a filing Monday: “You cannot practice democracy for Ghana while practicing oligarchy in your party.”
WHAT IS THE DELEGATE SYSTEM?
Since 1992, the NPP and NDC have used variants of an electoral college. Roughly 200,000 to 250,000 polling station executives, constituency officers, founding members, and overseas branches vote in presidential primaries. Parliamentary primaries use even smaller colleges — sometimes just 800 to 1,500 delegates per constituency.
Critics say the system is opaque and monetized. “When you have 1,200 people deciding for 90,000 constituents, the price per vote becomes astronomical,” said Dr. Kojo Asante of CDD-Ghana. Vote-buying allegations have marred primaries in both major parties, with reported payouts of GH₵1,000 to GH₵5,000 per delegate in 2023.
THE CASE FOR OMOV: PROS
1. Deepens internal democracy
Expanding the franchise from 250,000 delegates to 2.5 million card-bearing party members would make candidates accountable to the grassroots, not just power brokers. In Nigeria, the APC’s 2022 move to direct primaries increased turnout and reduced imposition of candidates.
2. Reduces monetization
Bribing 50,000 members in a constituency is logistically harder and costlier than bribing 1,200 delegates. The thinking: diffuse the power, dilute the cash.
3. Increases legitimacy
Candidates elected by the full party base start general elections with a stronger mandate. It also ends the “delegate is kingmaker” culture that fuels factionalism after primaries.
4. Broadens participation
Teachers, traders, and farmers who fund parties with dues could finally choose candidates. “Why should my dues count but my vote doesn’t?” asked NPP member Akua Sarpong of Kumasi.
THE RISKS: CONS AND IMPLEMENTATION HURDLES
1. Party register credibility
Neither NPP nor NDC has a verifiable, biometric national register. Both parties’ 2023 membership drives were disputed. OMOV without a clean register invites litigation and infiltration by rival parties. The EC has said it will not manage internal polls unless parties produce audited registers 6 months before voting.
2. Cost and logistics
The Electoral Commission estimates a nationwide party primary would cost GH₵180 million per party — ballots, BVDs, security, officials. Who pays? If parties pass the cost to aspirants, filing fees could hit GH₵500,000, pricing out young aspirants and women.
3. External influence
With 2 million voters, businessmen and foreign interests could fund mass registration drives to stack primaries. Kenya’s 2022 party primaries saw “briefcase members” register en masse to swing tickets.
4. Time and security
Organizing 275 parliamentary primaries simultaneously is a mini-national election. Police fear stretched resources during a general election year. There’s also risk of violence if results are disputed across 16 regions.
WHAT PROPER IMPLEMENTATION WOULD TAKE
1. Clean, biometric registers: Parties must digitize and publish members 12 months before primaries. Independent audits, with EC observer status, are non-negotiable.
2. Phased rollout: Start with presidential primaries in 2028, then parliamentary in 2032. This gives parties time to build systems.
3. State support, party control: EC should provide BVDs and supervision at cost, but parties must run their own polls to avoid blurring state-party lines.
4. Spending caps + subsidies: Parliament could cap aspirant spending and create a Primary Support Fund so women and PWDs aren’t excluded by money.
5. Penalties for infiltration: Amend Political Parties Act to criminalize mass registration with intent to manipulate outcomes.
REACTIONS
The NPP’s General Secretary said the party “welcomes reforms but fears chaos without structures.” The NDC called government’s move “populist interference” and noted that parties are voluntary associations.
Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe has previously argued that “parties are voluntary, but once they seek state power, their internal democracy becomes public interest.”
Scrapping delegates could be Ghana’s biggest internal democracy reform since 1992. Done badly, it replaces delegate corruption with mass chaos and money politics. Done right, it could renew trust in parties and kill the phrase “the highest bidder wins.”
The Supreme Court hears arguments in October.
Voices from the Ground
“I’ve been a party member since 2004. I pay dues. Let me vote.” – Kwabena Owusu, taxi driver, Takoradi
“If we open it, rich people will just buy the whole branch.” – Hajia Mariama, polling station women’s organizer, Tamale
Alexander Afriyie, Ghanacrimereport.com and Ghanatalk.com