Asiedu Nketia: Delegate System Is Destroying Ghana’s Democracy

By: Ebenezer Adu-Gyamfi / Emmanuel Ayiku for GhanaianNewsCanada | August,2026

National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has launched a strong criticism of Ghana’s political party delegate system, arguing that it has undermined the country’s democratic process by encouraging corruption, vote-buying and the monetization of internal party elections.

Speaking on the recent Supreme Court decision that struck down the delegate voting system for internal political party elections, Asiedu Nketia described the ruling as a significant step toward strengthening Ghana’s democracy and giving ordinary party members a greater voice in electing their leaders.

“The Delegate System Is Destroying Ghana”

According to Asiedu Nketia, the delegate system has gradually become a source of major governance challenges because only a small number of delegates determine who leads political parties.

He argued that concentrating voting power in the hands of a few delegates has encouraged intense lobbying, financial inducements and unhealthy political competition, making internal elections increasingly expensive and less representative of the wishes of ordinary party members.

Calls for Greater Participation

The veteran politician believes political parties should embrace a broader electoral college that allows all registered members to vote in choosing party executives and parliamentary candidates.

He said expanding participation would reduce opportunities for vote-buying, increase accountability and strengthen internal democracy by ensuring that leaders emerge through the support of a wider membership rather than a limited group of delegates.

Supreme Court Decision Sparks Debate

Asiedu Nketia’s remarks come after Ghana’s Supreme Court ruled against the long-standing delegate system used by political parties, a judgment that could significantly reshape how parties elect their national and constituency executives in the future.

The ruling has generated widespread debate across Ghana’s political landscape, with some welcoming the decision as a victory for grassroots democracy while others have expressed concerns about the practical and financial implications of allowing all party members to vote in internal elections.

A Long-Standing Concern

The NDC Chairman has consistently argued that limiting voting rights to delegates has contributed to the monetization of politics and weakened public confidence in internal party elections.

Political analysts say the Supreme Court’s decision, if fully implemented by all political parties, could fundamentally transform Ghana’s internal political processes by broadening participation and reducing the influence of money in leadership contests.

Implications for Ghana’s Political Future

The decision is expected to affect all registered political parties, including the NDC and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), both of which have traditionally relied on delegate conferences to elect national executives and presidential candidates.

Supporters of the ruling believe it will deepen democracy by empowering grassroots members, while critics caution that organizing nationwide internal elections involving all party members could present significant logistical and financial challenges.

As political parties study the implications of the court’s ruling, discussions are expected to continue over the most effective way to balance broad participation with efficient party administration.

GhanaianNewsCanada will continue to monitor reactions from political parties, legal experts and civil society organizations as Ghana prepares for a new era in its internal democratic processes.