CARE Ghana Backs Calls to Scrap Delegate System in Party Elections
Care for Free and Fair Elections Ghana is calling on political parties to abandon the delegate system used to elect leaders and parliamentary candidates.
David Kumi Addo, Executive Director of CARE Ghana, said in a statement issued on May 28, 2026, that the current system has become a major driver of vote buying, vote selling, corruption, intimidation, manipulation and violence in internal party elections.
According to Addo, the arrangement concentrates too much influence in the hands of a few individuals, making contests vulnerable to financial inducement and transactional politics.
“The current delegate system has gradually created a political environment where few individuals wield excessive influence over leadership selection processes,” Addo said. “Instead of promoting merit, competence, integrity and grassroots participation, the system has increasingly rewarded monetary influence and political patronage.”
Addo said the commercialization of internal elections has deepened divisions within parties and sidelined ordinary members from key decision-making processes. He noted that the trend undermines democratic accountability, fairness, transparency and public confidence in Ghana’s democratic processes.
CARE Ghana said it supports the concerns raised by plaintiffs calling for reforms to the delegate arrangement. The organization urged all political parties, especially the two major parties, to reconsider the system and adopt broader, more inclusive and participatory processes that allow every registered party member to vote in leadership elections.
“Democracy thrives when power genuinely resides with the people and not in the hands of a few selected delegates who can easily be influenced through financial means or political pressure,” Addo said.
The group argued that expanding the electoral college within political parties would reduce vote buying and selling, minimize electoral violence and manipulation, and promote transparency and accountability. It said such changes would enhance the legitimacy and credibility of parties and strengthen democratic gains.
CARE Ghana called on the Electoral Commission, Parliament, civil society organizations, religious bodies, traditional authorities and other stakeholders to support efforts aimed at reforming internal party electoral systems to protect Ghana’s democratic future.
“As Ghana continues to position itself as a beacon of democracy in Africa, it is imperative that political parties demonstrate commitment to internal democracy, fairness, transparency and peaceful political participation,” Addo said.
The organization reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for credible, peaceful and accountable democratic processes that safeguard national unity, political stability and democratic development.
