More than 20 aspirants seeking various positions in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Executive elections have been disqualified for failing to meet a constitutional eligibility requirement that appears to have escaped several candidates’ attention until they appeared before the party’s vetting committee.
The provision requires aspirants to have held an executive position within the party for at least four years or served in an NDC government, alongside other membership and participation requirements.
The constitutional clause has emerged as a major hurdle for several contenders, raising questions about the party’s eligibility criteria and the extent to which aspirants familiarised themselves with the requirements governing elections to its national leadership.
It also brings into focus the importance of understanding and complying with the party’s constitution before seeking national executive positions.
What does the constitution say?
The relevant provision outlines additional qualifications for individuals seeking national executive positions in the party.
It states that an aspirant:
i. Must be a registered member of the Party.
ii. Must be a paid-up member who has paid his/her dues from January 2021 to date.
iii. Should have held an executive position within the Party for a minimum of four (4) years or must have served in an NDC Government.
iv. Should have been an active member of the Party for the past four (4) years.
The constitution further defines an executive position as a full term of four years from the constituency level and above, or a minimum of two years for Article 71 officeholders under the 1992 Constitution.
This means that membership of the party alone does not automatically qualify an individual to contest for a national executive position. Aspirants must also demonstrate the requisite executive experience or service in an NDC government, as well as satisfy the other stipulated conditions.
23 aspirants disqualified after vetting
The disqualification of the aspirants attracted emotional scenes, with some of those affected reportedly breaking down in tears following the committee’s decision.
The spokesperson for the vetting committee, Dr Peter Boamah Otokunor, explained that the affected aspirants failed to satisfy eligibility requirements contained in the party’s constitution and accompanying electoral guidelines.
Speaking to the media after the vetting exercise, he disclosed that 122 individuals had filed nominations, but one aspirant failed to appear for vetting, leaving 121 candidates to undergo the process.
Of the 121 aspirants vetted, 98 were cleared to contest the various positions, while 23 were disqualified for failing to meet the stipulated requirements.
“122 individuals filed, and one was absent for the vetting, so it means that 121 undertook the vetting. Out of that, we had 23 disqualified. So if 23 were disqualified, then it means that we have about 98 people cleared to contest,” he said.
He further indicated that the four-year eligibility requirement accounted for almost all the disqualifications.
“Almost all of them were disqualified on a clause that provides a prerequisite for individuals who contest for national executive positions. And they didn’t meet that clause, that requirement, and so they had to be disqualified,” he added.The NDC will hold its 9th National Delegates Congress on Saturday, December 19, 2026, when members will elect national officers to steer the affairs of the party.
The elections form part of the party’s ongoing reorganisation exercise ahead of the 2028 general elections.
