The Supreme Court has ruled that all registered members in good standing of political parties must be allowed to vote in the selection of presidential and parliamentary candidates, bringing an end to the delegates system used in internal party primaries.
The decision, delivered by a 5-2 majority, bars all political parties from electing presidential and parliamentary candidates through delegates or electoral college systems.
The ruling came in the case of Frimpong-Boateng and Two Others v New Patriotic Party and Four Others, in which the court directed political parties to revise their internal electoral processes to comply with the judgment.
According to the court, political parties have up to one year from the date of the ruling to put in place the necessary arrangements to ensure all eligible registered members in good standing can participate directly in presidential and parliamentary primaries.
The Supreme Court also made it clear that the judgment will not affect decisions, appointments or elections that were lawfully conducted under the previous arrangements before the ruling.
It said all such processes remain valid and will not be invalidated by the new decision.
The court further announced that the full reasons for its judgment will be filed at the court registry on August 5.
The ruling is expected to reshape the way political parties conduct internal elections, requiring them to replace delegate-based voting with systems that allow the participation of all eligible members in good standing.
Source: metrotvonline.com
