Don’t Put A Price On Democracy- Vormawor Warns

Constitutional Rights and Policy Strategy Advisor at Democracy Hub, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, has called for a broader national conversation on state support for political party primaries following the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling that all registered members in good standing of political parties must be allowed to vote in the selection of party leaders and parliamentary candidates. He argued that concerns over the financial implications of implementing the new electoral framework should not stand in the way of efforts to strengthen internal democracy within political parties.

The Supreme Court, in a 5–2 majority decision delivered on Wednesday, July 29, ruled that political parties must permit all registered members in good standing to participate in the election of party executives and electoral candidates. The decision effectively abolishes Ghana’s long-standing delegate system and introduces a “one member, one vote” model that is expected to significantly reshape internal party elections. The ruling has since sparked debate over the logistical and financial demands of extending voting rights from a relatively small group of delegates to the entire membership of political parties.

Commenting on the implications of the judgement on Joy News’ Newsfile on Saturday August 1, Mr Barker-Vormawor acknowledged that nationwide primaries under the new system would require greater resources but insisted that the potential costs should be viewed within the wider context of Ghana’s investment in democratic governance. “The mere fact that this may not entirely eliminate money in our politics doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try,” he said, stressing that expanding participation remains an important democratic objective even if it does not completely remove the influence of money in politics.

He noted that the state already plays a significant role in the conduct of political party primaries through the Electoral Commission’s supervisory responsibilities, arguing that taxpayers are already contributing to the administration of internal political contests. “We have to admit to ourselves that there is already enough state funding that goes into our political parties’ primaries,” he said. According to him, the Electoral Commission’s involvement demonstrates that public resources are already being used to support party electoral processes. “The mere presence of the Electoral Commission in supervising our elections—these are people that we pay,” he stated.

Mr Barker-Vormawor maintained that the transition to the “one member, one vote” system should prompt a broader policy discussion on how Ghana finances its democratic institutions, rather than focusing solely on the increased costs political parties may face. “We have to have a holistic conversation about what is the extent of how the state picks up some of the bill as this goes forward,” he said. He argued that policymakers must strike a balance between expanding democratic participation and ensuring that political parties have the resources needed to organise credible and inclusive internal elections.

Mr Barker-Vormawor also rejected suggestions that the Supreme Court’s decision creates an entirely new financial burden for political parties, contending that the country’s democratic framework already provides substantial institutional support for internal party elections. “But also importantly, it is not true that our democracy imposes any cost on our political parties at all,” he said. The Supreme Court’s decision is expected to trigger significant changes in the organisation of party primaries, requiring political parties to review their constitutions, electoral procedures and membership systems to comply with the new constitutional requirement.

The ruling has been widely described as one of the most consequential judicial decisions on Ghana’s democratic governance in recent years, with supporters arguing that it will broaden participation, enhance accountability and reduce the concentration of power among a limited group of party delegates. Critics, however, continue to raise concerns over the financial, logistical and administrative challenges associated with implementing nationwide internal elections.

Source: Joy News
Author: Joyce Owusu