The Deputy National Communications Officer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), George Krobea Asante, has weighed in on the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on Ghana’s delegate system, describing it as a potential turning point for internal party democracy.

Speaking amid ongoing public debate, Krobea Asante said he has been “keenly following the conversations across various platforms” since the apex court delivered its decision. The ruling has sparked mixed reactions from political actors, civil society organisations, constitutional experts, and the general public.

According to him, many stakeholders view the judgement as a “landmark decision” that could reform and strengthen internal electoral processes. Key among the expected benefits is the curbing of excessive monetisation in party primaries — a trend he described as a “growing canker that threatens the integrity of our democracy.”

Reports of aspirants spending millions of cedis on internal campaigns have become common, he noted, fueling concerns about vote-buying, patronage politics, and a “highest bidder” culture that sidelines competence and vision.

However, Krobea Asante acknowledged that others have raised concerns about implementation. These include legal and operational gaps, political party financing, voter register integrity, and the logistics of conducting nationwide internal elections.

To address these, the Supreme Court has granted political parties a one-year transition period to review their constitutions and adjust their structures for effective implementation. Krobea Asante welcomed the window, saying it “provides an opportunity for careful planning rather than rushed implementation.”

He stressed that for the NPP, the conversation is not new. The party has, over the years, deliberately expanded its electoral college from a few thousand polling station executives to over 200,000 delegates through successive constitutional reforms.

“The long-term vision has always been to reach a stage where every registered member in good standing has the opportunity to participate in electing the party’s presidential and parliamentary candidates,” he said.

Krobea Asante clarified that the ruling affects only presidential and parliamentary primaries — the areas most affected by monetisation. In his view, the decision moves Ghana closer to the democratic principle of One Member, One Vote (OMOV), already used in varying forms in the UK, Canada, and the US.

“While no system is perfect, international experience demonstrates that wider participation strengthens members’ sense of ownership and deepens internal democracy,” he added.

Still, he cautioned that expanding participation alone will not solve every problem. “Political parties must invest in credible membership registers, robust verification systems, transparent financing, effective electoral dispute mechanisms, and voter education. Without these safeguards, the challenges associated with the delegates system could simply be replicated on a larger scale.”

He described the growing influence of money in internal elections as a “matter of national concern” that cuts across political affiliations, and said any reform that restores credibility, fairness, transparency, and equal opportunity deserves serious consideration.

As the NPP awaits its official position and the full written judgement of the Supreme Court, Krobea Asante urged party members to “remain calm, avoid speculation, and allow the legal process to run its course.”

“Once the full decision is available, we can engage in a more informed, constructive, and forward-looking discussion on the best way to operationalise this important constitutional milestone,” he concluded.

Report by Bernard K Dadzie Greater Accra Region