Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, one of the plaintiffs in the case that challenged how political parties select their presidential and parliamentary candidates, says the Supreme Court’s ruling on the matter is a boost for democracy in Ghana and will help restore merit as the basis for political leadership.
The apex court, in a 5-2 majority decision, found that the delegate system used by parties to elect their candidates runs contrary to democratic principles. It has given political parties one year to review their internal electoral processes so that all registered members in good standing not just a select group of delegates can take part in choosing candidates.
The effect of the ruling is that parties can no longer rely solely on a narrow pool of delegates to pick their flagbearers and parliamentary candidates, and will instead have to open up their internal elections to wider participation from their membership.
Reacting to the judgment, Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe told Citi News the decision strengthens the foundations of Ghana’s democracy.
“The Supreme Court decision is indeed a good decision for democracy. If democracy must continue, then it must be merit-based. Otherwise, it has no meaning,” he said.
He said the ruling puts political parties on notice that the voices of their ordinary members can no longer be sidelined in the contest for political power, and expressed confidence that parties would draw the necessary lessons from the judgment.
“I believe strongly political parties are going to learn a lesson from this, and they should know that the will of the people can never be changed,” he added.
Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe further argued that access to political office should be earned through competence, credibility and the genuine backing of party members, rather than through money or connections.
“You cannot buy your way to office. That is untenable,” he said.
