The incumbent National Democratic Congress (NDC) Constituency Secretary for La Dadekotopon in the Greater Accra Region, Dzifa Gunu, has reportedly been disqualified from contesting the upcoming constituency executive elections.
Mr Gunu, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Digital Centres Limited (GDCL), is said to have been disqualified following two separate petitions challenging his eligibility to contest while holding his public appointment.
The petitions centre on an NDC directive requiring government appointees seeking to contest internal executive positions to resign from their public offices at least six clear months before filing their nomination forms.
The party announced the requirement in January 2026, with the deadline for aspirants seeking constituency-level positions set for April 2026. The rule covers Chief Executive Officers, Managing Directors, their deputies and other analogous government appointments.
The NDC subsequently reiterated the requirement. In June, the party’s Acting Director of Elections and Information Technology, Mahdi Gbril, said government appointees seeking constituency, regional or national executive positions were required to resign within the prescribed timelines.
The rule was also challenged in court. On July 23, 2026, the Accra High Court dismissed a case seeking to restrain the NDC from enforcing the resignation requirement, allowing the party to proceed with its implementation.
In La Dadekotopon, Mr Gunu’s eligibility became the subject of two petitions ahead of the constituency vetting exercise.
The first petition, addressed to the Constituency Elections Committee and copied to senior party officials at the regional and national levels, called for his disqualification on grounds of alleged non-compliance with the resignation requirement.
The petitioner argued that Mr Gunu remained CEO of Ghana Digital Centres Limited beyond the April deadline and therefore did not meet the eligibility requirements for a constituency executive position.
A second petition, submitted by Andrew Aryee, Branch Secretary of the La Girls School ‘2’ Branch, asked the Elections Committee to establish whether Mr Gunu had resigned from his government appointment within the prescribed period.
The petition called for verification of Mr Gunu’s appointment, the date of any resignation and whether it fell within the applicable deadline, before his nomination was assessed against the NDC Constitution and the 2026 electoral guidelines.
Mr Gunu has publicly continued to be identified as CEO of Ghana Digital Centres Limited in 2026.
Following consideration of the petitions and the applicable eligibility provisions, the La Dadekotopon vetting process, involving representatives of the regional and national party structures, reportedly disqualified Mr Gunu from contesting the Constituency Secretary position.
The decision has changed the complexion of the contest, with Mr Gunu having sought to retain the position he currently occupies.
His reported disqualification leaves Jeffrey Tetteh and Pat Quaye as the candidates expected to contest for the Constituency Secretary position, subject to any appeal or review of the vetting decision.
Gunu expected to challenge decision
Mr Gunu is reportedly dissatisfied with the decision and is expected to challenge the disqualification through the appropriate party processes.
Any challenge could determine whether the vetting decision is upheld or whether his candidature is restored.
