The Deputy Director of Elections and IT of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Rashid Tanko-Computer, has welcomed the Supreme Court’s ruling allowing all party members in good standing to vote in the internal elections of political parties.
Speaking on Accra-based Citi FM after the judgment, Dr Tanko-Computer described the decision as a victory for internal democracy, saying it would promote broader participation by party members in the election of their leaders.
He revealed that the NDC in 2016 piloted it but ended creating a few problems for the party adding that the party has strenghtened its internal measures for the full rollout of the outcome of the Supreme Court rulling.
According to him, the ruling reinforces the democratic principles underpinning political parties and ensures that members in good standing are given the opportunity to directly influence the leadership and direction of their respective parties.
He added that will ensure some revenue mobilization drive for parties explaining that partie with about five milion members and each is paying one cedis as membership dues will end up making one million cedis annually.
He noted that the decision would strengthen transparency, inclusiveness and accountability within political parties, while encouraging greater grassroots involvement in internal electoral processes.
The Supreme Court’s ruling is expected to have significant implications for the conduct of internal elections by political parties across the country, requiring them to align their electoral processes with the court’s interpretation of members’ voting rights.
In a 5-2 majority decision, the apex court held that all registered members of a political party must be given the opportunity to participate in the election of candidates to represent the party in presidential and parliamentary elections.
