The NDC is preparing for the internal elections, with the party set to begin the next phase of its reorganisation after completing the election and validation of its branch executives.
The Acting Director of Elections and Information Technology, Mahdi Gibril, explained that members seeking to contest the upcoming constituency elections must satisfy the party’s constitutional requirements before they can proceed to the vetting stage. Mr Gibril cautioned that members who supported independent candidates in previous elections could be disqualified from contesting the party’s internal elections, depending on the circumstances and information available to the vetting committee.
He noted that the party’s rules require prospective candidates to have maintained the required membership period, meaning individuals who joined only recently would not qualify to contest.
“Somebody who decided last four years to fight against the party, support an independent candidate, automatically you don’t qualify to contest elections.”
Mahdi Gibril
The Acting Director further disclosed that criminal convictions could also affect a member’s eligibility, particularly where an individual had been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for an offence. He explained that the vetting process would not be limited to a single criterion, as committees would consider several requirements contained in the party’s constitution and other relevant information before reaching their decisions.
Mr Gibril stressed that the objective was to ensure that those who seek leadership positions meet the standards expected of party members and have complied with the organisation’s rules. The qualification requirements come as the NDC moves from the branch level to constituency elections as part of its wider internal reorganisation programme.
According to the Acting Director, the party has already completed the validation of its branch register, commonly referred to as the exhibition, paving the way for the next stage of the process. He indicated that the experience from the branch elections had provided the party with useful lessons as it prepares to conduct the constituency polls.
The NDC’s approach, he added, would require prospective candidates to follow established procedures before their eligibility can be determined. Mr Gibril therefore urged members seeking to contest to familiarise themselves with the requirements, as the vetting process would assess each candidate against the applicable provisions.
Online NDC Nominations Set To Improve Access And Reduce Election Disputes
The NDC plans to open nominations for its upcoming constituency elections on September 15, introducing an online process intended to make participation easier and reduce disputes over access to nomination forms.
The Acting Director of Elections and Information Technology, Mahdi Gibril, said prospective candidates would have from September 15 to 17 to obtain their nomination forms through the party’s online platform. Mr Gibril explained that applicants would use their party identification number and current voter identification number to access the system after paying the GH₵200 nomination fee.
Once the online application has been completed, candidates can print the required documents and proceed to secure endorsements from members at the branch level. The Acting Director said candidates would need endorsements from one third of the relevant branch membership before completing the filing process at the constituency level.
He disclosed that filing would take place around September 23 to 25, with the filing fee varying according to the position being contested. The arrangement, he noted, would remove some of the logistical difficulties that have previously affected members attempting to submit their forms physically at party offices.
“This excuse of ‘somebody didn’t allow us to pick nomination’ is not there,” he explained. Mr Gibril also highlighted measures designed to encourage wider participation by women and persons with disabilities in the internal elections.
Women contesting positions outside the women’s organiser slot will pay half the applicable filing fee, while persons with disabilities will also receive a 50 percent reduction on filing fees for the positions they seek. The initiative forms part of the NDC’s broader attempt to strengthen its grassroots structures through a bottom-up reorganisation process.
Mr Gibril revealed that the party recorded about 98 percent success in its branch elections, with executives elected across most of its 40,648 branches. He explained that the figure represented branches where elections were successfully conducted and executives elected, although some areas could not complete the process because of local challenges or failure to file.
The Acting Director argued that the level of participation demonstrates continuing interest in the party’s grassroots structures, particularly as the organisation moves into the constituency stage. He further indicated that reducing administrative barriers could help build greater confidence in the internal electoral system and make it easier for members to participate.
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