Ghana Supreme Court: No Delegate System for Presidential, Parliamentary Candidates

• The Ghana Supreme Court has struck down the delegate system used by political parties to elect their presidential and parliamentary candidates.
• The decision has spared the country the cost of a national referendum that would have been required to amend the constitution.
• CDD-Ghana has long advocated for abolishing the delegate system, citing its negative impact on internal party democracy and corruption in party primaries.
• The Supreme Court's ruling may reduce corruption and improve democratic governance by potentially changing the way political parties conduct their internal elections.

At least I am happy that the court has pre-empted it because it saved us some money — quite a bit of money actually,

The Ghana Supreme Court has made a landmark decision striking down the delegate system used by political parties to elect their presidential and parliamentary candidates. This ruling comes after years of advocacy from organizations like CDD-Ghana, which has long argued that the delegate system undermines internal party democracy and encourages corruption in party primaries.

According to Prof. Henry Kwasi Prempeh, Executive Director of CDD-Ghana, the Supreme Court's decision has spared the country the cost of a national referendum that would have been required to amend the constitution. In an interview on Woezor TV, Prof. Prempeh welcomed the court's ruling, stating that it has saved the country 'quite a bit of money' by pre-empting the need for a referendum.

The delegate system was a contentious issue in Ghanaian politics, with CDD-Ghana and other organizations advocating for its abolition. The Supreme Court's ruling is significant because it has effectively abolished the delegate system without requiring a constitutional amendment through a referendum. This decision has been hailed as a major victory for democratic governance in Ghana.

It's worth noting that while some jurisdictions use delegate-based elections, CDD-Ghana concluded that Ghana's experience showed the system had become detrimental to democratic governance. The organization proposed replacing it with a one-member, one-vote system to strengthen participation and reduce the influence of money in party elections.

The Supreme Court's decision has far-reaching implications for Ghanaian politics. By striking down the delegate system, the court has potentially reduced corruption and improved democratic governance. Lawyers and compliance officers should take note that this ruling may impact the way political parties conduct their internal elections.

Prof. Prempeh emphasized that CDD-Ghana's advocacy for abolishing the delegate system predated the legal challenge that culminated in the Supreme Court's ruling. The organization's recommendation was based on its conclusion that the delegate system had become detrimental to democratic governance, and that a one-member, one-vote system would be more effective in advancing democracy.

Lawyers and compliance officers should note that this ruling may impact the way political parties conduct their internal elections, potentially reducing corruption and improving democratic governance. They should be aware of any future developments or reforms in this area.

Source: Original reporting via MyJoyOnline Ghana