The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has set a GHS 50,000 filing fee for party members seeking to contest the position of Regional Chairman, as part of newly released guidelines governing its regional conferences and internal elections across Ghana.
The fee, the highest among all regional executive positions, is contained in the party’s official framework outlining procedures, eligibility, and voting rules for the election of Regional Executive Committees. The guidelines form part of preparations toward the party’s national congress, with regional conferences expected to be held at least two weeks before the national event.
Under the structure, other key positions also attract significant filing fees. Aspirants for Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Organiser, and related portfolios are required to pay GHS 30,000, while Treasurer and Regional Communication Officer hopefuls will pay GHS 20,000 each. The Regional Zongo Caucus Coordinator and Regional Youth or Women Organiser positions are pegged at GHS 15,000, and all deputy positions carry a GHS 10,000 fee.
Female candidates and persons with disabilities (PWDs) are entitled to pay half of the stated filing fees.
Who can vote
The regional conference serves as the party’s highest decision-making body at the regional level. Voting delegates include Constituency Executive Committee members, Members of Parliament from the region, Regional Executive Committee members, National Executive Committee members from the region, and founding members of the party from the region.
Also eligible are current and former ministers and deputy ministers from the region, former MPs, former Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, members of the Council of State, former presidential staffers from the region, and representatives from the Tertiary Educational Institutions Network (TEIN), with at least two of the five TEIN representatives required to be women.
Positions up for election
Delegates at the regional conference will elect key officers including the Chairman, two Vice-Chairmen, Secretary and Deputy Secretary, Treasurer and Deputy Treasurer, Regional Organiser and Deputy Organiser, Regional Communication Officer and Deputy, and the Regional Zongo Caucus Coordinator.
However, the Regional Youth Organiser, Deputy Youth Organisers, Regional Women Organiser, and Deputy Women Organisers will be elected separately by their respective youth and women conferences.
Eligibility requirements
To qualify, aspirants must be registered party members in the region, have been active in the party for at least four years, be in good standing, and have paid dues from January 2021 to date. They must also have previously held an executive role within the party or served in an NDC government position.
Youth organiser aspirants must not be older than 40 at the time of filing nominations.
Nomination and vetting
Nominations will remain open for eight days, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Aspirants must first purchase nomination forms for GHS 1,000 from the regional secretariat before submitting completed forms together with proof of payment of filing fees.
Each aspirant must be proposed and seconded by party officials in good standing and endorsed by at least 100 party members drawn from at least one-third of the constituencies in the region. No member is allowed to endorse more than one aspirant for the same level.
A five-member vetting committee — including representatives from the party’s National Executive Committee, Elections Directorate, and Legal Committee — will screen aspirants. Dissatisfied aspirants may appeal to the National Executive Committee within five days.
Voting process
Elections will be conducted by the Electoral Commission under party supervision. Voting will be by secret ballot, though proxy voting is permitted under strict rules. Results will be counted openly immediately after polls close, and winners will be determined by simple majority.
Where only one qualified aspirant files for a position, that person will be declared elected unopposed.
The regional conferences will also review party activities in the region and plan for future political work, while receiving reports from constituencies.
Source: A1 Radio | 101.1 Mhz | Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith | Bolgatanga
