The Dean of Constituency Communication Officers of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Western North Region, Isaiah Kwarteng, has welcomed the Supreme Court’s recent ruling requiring political parties to allow all registered members in good standing to vote in their presidential and parliamentary primaries.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Mr. Kwarteng described the Supreme Court’s 5–2 decision as “a victory for inclusiveness, participation and grassroots empowerment,” saying the judgment marks another important milestone in Ghana’s democratic development.
He also commended the NDC’s Elections Directorate and Information Technology Directorate for publicly endorsing the ruling, stating that their position reflects the party’s commitment to strengthening internal democracy and ensuring that ordinary party members play a central role in selecting their leaders.
Mr. Kwarteng recalled that the NDC implemented an expanded electoral college system for its parliamentary primaries in 2015, allowing all registered party members to vote. According to him, the process produced several current Members of Parliament and public office holders, including Samuel Nartey George, Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, Linda Akweley Ocloo, Ernest Henry Norgbey, Isaac Ashai Odamtten, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, Thomas Ampem Nyarko, Dominic Napare, Edward Abambire Bawa, and Benjamin Ayiku Narteh.
He further highlighted the case of Prof. Augustine Tawiah, who emerged through the 2015 expanded electoral college system after defeating the incumbent Member of Parliament in the Bia West Constituency parliamentary primaries and later served two terms in Parliament.
According to the statement, these examples demonstrate that expanding participation in party primaries creates opportunities for competent and visionary leaders to emerge through the collective decision of grassroots members.
Mr. Kwarteng said the Supreme Court’s ruling provides political parties with an opportunity to deepen internal democracy and reaffirm the role of their memberships in selecting both parliamentary and presidential candidates.
He concluded by urging all political parties to embrace the ruling in both its letter and spirit, stressing that inclusive democratic processes strengthen political parties and ultimately contribute to Ghana’s democratic development.
