Johnson Asiedu Nketia, National Chairman of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), has attributed the legal challenge to the delegates system of political party primaries to concerns over its growing influence of money in elections.
According to him, although the delegates system was intended to make party elections more manageable through representative democracy, it has increasingly failed to ensure that delegates vote in the interest of those they represent.
Speaking on Accra-based Onua TV, General Mosquito, as he is popularly known, was discussing the Supreme Court’s recent decision to phase out the delegates system.
He explained that the concept of representative democracy was useful because it reduced the number of people directly involved in elections.
However, he said the system had become problematic because some delegates allegedly prioritise personal benefits over the interests of their constituents.
“Representative democracy makes things better because those who gather are not that plenty. But the challenge with it is that, maybe if Onua TV selects you to represent them at GJA elections, you have your choice and Onua TV people also have you as their representative. The best thing would have been to speak the mind of those you’re representing,” he said.
Mr Asiedu Nketia, however, said some delegates no longer act as genuine representatives, but instead make decisions based on what they expect to gain from candidates.
“But they prioritise their own choices and sometimes it is neither theirs nor those they are representing but looks at what he will get. Meaning he has betrayed those that sent him,” he stated.
He argued that such practices had transformed party elections into contests where financial strength could determine the outcome, rather than a candidate’s competence, experience or commitment to public service.
“That’s why some people sent the delegates system to court since it became a thing for the highest bidder. Meaning election is no more about the person’s experience but rather an auction that goes for the highest bidder,” he added.
The NDC chairman said the situation ultimately disadvantages individuals with the capacity and genuine desire to serve but who may not have the financial resources to compete in such an environment.
He maintained that reforming the system was therefore necessary to create a more credible electoral process that gives qualified candidates a fair opportunity to emerge.
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