Former District Chief Executive (DCE) for the Suaman District in the Western North Region, Hon. Philip Kwabena Boahen, has welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to scrap the delegates system used by political parties in selecting their presidential and parliamentary candidates, describing the ruling as a significant step toward strengthening internal democracy.
Hon. Boahen, who is contesting for the position of Western North Regional Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), said the decision restores power to the grassroots by allowing more party members to participate directly in choosing their leaders.
Speaking on Winners FM’s Omanba Pa programme with host Odehyieba, in an interview monitored by Apiah-Kubi, the NPP Regional Organizer hopeful said he fully supports the reforms and believes they will promote fairness, transparency, and inclusiveness in internal party elections.
He said expanding the electoral college would reduce the cost of internal elections while broadening participation in decision-making, insisting that the reforms would have no adverse effect on political parties.
According to him, allowing more eligible party members to vote would also help reduce violence and vote-buying, which have often characterized internal party elections.
Hon. Boahen further called on the government to support the financing of internal party elections by providing resources to the Electoral Commission to conduct credible and transparent electoral processes.
He suggested that membership dues paid by party members in good standing could also be used to finance party activities, while state support would ease the financial burden on political parties and deepen Ghana’s democratic governance.
On the ongoing constitutional review process, Hon. Boahen endorsed the proposal to extend the presidential term of office from four years to five years, arguing that the current tenure does not provide governments with sufficient time to fully implement their development programmes.
He explained that the first year of every administration is largely consumed by transition and appointments, while the final year is dominated by election-related activities, leaving only a limited period for effective governance and policy implementation.
Hon. Boahen also backed the recommendation to reduce the minimum age requirement for presidential candidates to 35 years, saying the move would create opportunities for more young people to aspire to national leadership while strengthening Ghana’s democratic future.
