Monetisation in our politics the bane of corruption, delegate system ruling a major win for our fight – Mary Addah

Executive Director of Transparency International Ghana, Mary Awalena Addah, has welcomed the Supreme Court's decision declaring the delegate system used by political parties unconstitutional, describing it as a major step toward addressing the growing monetisation of politics in Ghana.

According to her, the ruling presents an opportunity to reduce the influence of money in internal party elections, a trend she believes has fuelled corruption within the country's political system.

Speaking on Channel One TV on Wednesday, July 29, Ms. Addah said the judgment aligns with concerns her organisation has consistently raised through research and advocacy on political accountability and electoral reforms.

“I believe the justices of the Supreme Court have been listening to our advocacy over time that monetisation in our politics is the bane of the corrupt behaviour we've seen,” she said.

In a 5-2 majority decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the delegate system used by political parties to elect presidential and parliamentary candidates is unconstitutional. The court directed all political parties to revise their internal electoral processes within one year to allow all registered members in good standing to participate in selecting parliamentary and presidential candidates.

The ruling effectively abolishes the long-standing arrangement under which only selected delegates were permitted to vote in internal party elections.

Ms. Addah said broadening participation in the candidate selection process would enhance fairness and significantly reduce the opportunities for vote-buying and undue financial influence.

“For me, this is a landmark judgment that this country must applaud the justices of the Supreme Court for. It gives clarity that every card-bearing member who is in good standing has an equal right to elect who becomes an MP or a presidential candidate,” she added.

While applauding the verdict, she emphasised that its success would depend on effective implementation. She noted that the one-year transition period granted by the Supreme Court provides political parties and other stakeholders with sufficient time to reform their internal electoral systems in line with the ruling.

Ms. Addah expressed optimism that the judgment would strengthen internal party democracy and contribute to a more transparent and accountable political environment in Ghana.