Supreme Court Scraps Political Parties’ Delegate System, Orders Inclusive Primaries

Ghana’s Supreme Court has struck down the delegate system used by political parties to pick presidential and parliamentary candidates, ruling that it violates the Constitution.

By a *5-2 majority decision*, the court ordered all political parties to open up their candidate elections within the next *12 months* so that every member in good standing can vote.

Under the old system, only a select group of delegates chose candidates on behalf of the wider membership for both presidential and parliamentary primaries. The court said that structure is no longer tenable.

The judges directed parties to review and amend their constitutions and internal election rules to allow broader participation by the rank and file.

The ruling is expected to trigger major changes in how parties conduct internal democracy ahead of future elections. Both the *NDC* and *NPP*, which have historically relied on delegate conferences to elect flagbearers and parliamentary nominees, will now have to design new frameworks that give all qualified members the right to cast a ballot in primaries.

Political parties have one year from the date of the judgment to comply with the directive.