The Office of the Attorney-General has urged the Supreme Court of Ghana to declare that political party primaries should be opened to all members in good standing, in what could become a landmark decision for internal party democracy in Ghana.
According to legal arguments presented before the court, the Attorney-General believes restricting voting rights in party primaries to only selected delegates undermines the democratic principles enshrined in the country’s Constitution. The position argues that every duly registered and active party member should have the opportunity to participate in choosing parliamentary and presidential candidates.
The case is expected to reignite national debate over Ghana’s delegate system, which has long been criticized by some political observers and party grassroots supporters for concentrating power in the hands of a limited number of party executives and delegates.
Supporters of broader participation argue that opening primaries to all members would reduce allegations of vote-buying, delegate manipulation, and internal political favoritism. They also believe it would strengthen accountability and make political candidates more responsive to the wider party base rather than a small electoral college.
However, critics of the proposal warn that fully opening primaries could significantly increase the cost and logistical burden of internal elections for political parties. Others argue that parties should retain the constitutional freedom to design their own internal electoral structures without judicial interference.
The Attorney-General’s intervention before the Supreme Court is already attracting intense political interest, especially as major parties prepare for future internal contests ahead of the next general elections.
Legal analysts say the eventual ruling could reshape the way political parties in Ghana conduct primaries, potentially affecting candidate selection processes across the country for years to come.
The Supreme Court is expected to examine whether limiting primaries to delegates is consistent with constitutional provisions on political participation, equality, and democratic governance before delivering its decision.
