By Godwill Arthur-Mensah
Accra, July 30, GNA – Professor Kingsley Nyarko, Member of Parliament for Kwadaso, has called for punitive legislation to back the Supreme Court’s ruling abolishing the delegate system of voting within political parties.
He said without severe sanctions such as forfeiture of candidacy or imprisonment for politicians who use money to influence delegates, the ruling will not achieve its intended impact.
Prof. Nyarko made the remarks in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Parliament House following the Supreme Court’s 5–2 majority decision that all registered members in good standing of political parties must be allowed to vote in electing party leaders and parliamentary candidates.
The ruling overturns the long-standing delegate system employed by Ghana’s major political parties, paving the way for a “one member, one vote” system in internal party elections.
The constitutional challenge was filed by former Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng; veteran politician Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe; and former Lands and Forestry Minister, Dr. Christine Amoako-Nuamah.
They argued that restricting voting rights to a limited number of delegates was inconsistent with the democratic principles enshrined in the 1992 Constitution.
The Attorney-General’s Department supported the challenge, stressing that political parties perform an important public function within Ghana’s democratic framework and must reflect constitutional values of equality, participation and universal suffrage in their internal processes.
The ruling is expected to reshape the organisation of political parties and the conduct of future presidential, parliamentary and executive primaries.
GNA
Edited by Audrey Dekalu
Reporter: Godwill Arthur-Mensah
Reporter’s email: [email protected]