Ghana’s political parties may be heading for a major restructuring of their internal electoral processes following a landmark Supreme Court ruling that effectively ends the use of delegate-based primaries for selecting presidential and parliamentary candidates.
In a 5–2 majority decision, the apex court ordered political parties to replace the current delegate system with a broader arrangement that gives every registered party member in good standing the opportunity to vote in internal elections.
The Court gave political parties a one-year window to introduce the necessary reforms to comply with the ruling, which is expected to significantly alter how candidates emerge ahead of future elections.
The judgment followed a legal challenge by Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe and Dr. Christine Amoako-Nuamah, who argued that limiting voting rights to selected delegates deprived ordinary party members of meaningful participation in decisions that shape the country’s political leadership.
The Court agreed with the plaintiffs’ argument, holding that delegate-based elections create a restricted voting environment that can encourage undue influence and money politics.
According to the Court, allowing all eligible party members to participate directly in primaries would strengthen internal democracy, improve accountability and deepen political participation.
The ruling also placed responsibility on the Electoral Commission to ensure that political parties operate in line with constitutional requirements, affirming that the Commission has a role in promoting compliance with democratic standards.
As part of its orders, the Court restrained political parties from continuing to use delegate systems to select presidential and parliamentary candidates and directed them to establish new mechanisms that allow all members in good standing to vote.
However, the Court clarified that previous decisions, appointments and actions carried out legally under the old system before the judgment remain valid.
The case was determined by a seven-member panel comprising Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, Justice Issifu Omoro Tanko Amadu, Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu, Justice Senyo Dzamefe, Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu and Justice George Kingsley Koomson.
Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu and Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu dissented from the majority decision.
