BY Daniel Bampoe
The governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) has officially announced that it will hold its National Delegates Conference on Saturday, December 19, 2026, as part of a major internal reorganisation aimed at electing new national executives and strengthening the party’s structures ahead of the 2028 general elections.
The decision, which signals the start of a new cycle of leadership renewal within the party, was made public by the General Secretary, Fifi Fiavi Kwatey, during a press conference on Thursday.
Fifi Kwatey explained that the NDC’s internal elections will follow the party’s traditional bottom-to-top approach, beginning from the grassroots level at branches across the country, before progressing through constituency and regional elections, and finally culminating in the national congress where key national officers will be elected.
According to him, the process is designed to ensure democratic participation, transparency, and fairness in the party’s leadership selection.
He outlined that nominations for national positions will be opened from Saturday, November 7, to Monday, November 9, 2026.
This will be followed by the vetting of aspirants scheduled for Thursday, November 12, and Friday, November 13, 2026. Appeals by dissatisfied aspirants will take place on Sunday, November 15, and Monday, November 16, 2026.
In addition, the party will hold its Youth and Women’s Conferences on Saturday, December 12, 2026, ahead of the main congress.
“That congress will happen on Saturday, the 19th December, 2026,” Kwatey announced, stressing that the exercise forms a critical part of the NDC’s preparations for the next political contest.
He said the party intends to “complete the very important edifice” that will position it strongly for the next round of “fighting for power” while sustaining what he described as the good work currently being undertaken.
The NDC has also issued comprehensive guidelines governing elections at all levels of the party, pursuant to key constitutional provisions including Articles 14 through 22, as well as Articles 36 and 40.
At the branch level, positions such as Chairman, Secretary, Organiser, Treasurer, Communications Officer, Women’s Organiser, Youth Organiser, and two additional members will be contested.
Aspirants must be registered party members, at least 18 years old, active within the branch for the past year, and must have paid dues for at least one year.
Members must also not belong to any other political party or have breached disciplinary provisions under Article 40.
Branch elections will be supervised by representatives from constituency and regional executives, with provisions allowing elections to be annulled and rerun within seven days if gross irregularities are established.
Voting at branch level may be conducted by show of hands or consensus, with no proxy voting permitted. Aggrieved contestants may petition constituency executives, with unresolved matters escalated to the regional level.
Following branch elections, specialised committees including Research, Disciplinary, and Electoral Committees will be appointed within one month.
These committees are expected to strengthen intelligence gathering, enforce discipline, and manage electoral processes at the grassroots.
At the constituency level, conferences will be convened to elect officers such as Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Organiser, Communications Officer, Zongo Caucus Coordinator, and other executive members. Aspirants must be in good standing, must have paid dues from January 2021 to December 2024, and must not have supported independent candidates against the NDC in the 2024 elections.
Nomination forms at this level will cost GHS200, while filing fees range from GHS500 to GHS5,000 depending on the position, with female candidates and persons with disability paying half.
Regional conferences, which must be held at least two weeks before the national congress, will elect regional executives including Chairman, Vice Chairmen, Secretary, Treasurer, Organiser, Communications Officer, and Zongo Caucus Coordinator.
Filing fees at the regional level are significantly higher, with the regional chairman position attracting GHS50,000, again with reduced rates for women and persons with disability.
The National Congress itself, described as the highest decision-making body of the party, will elect top national officers including National Chairman, three Vice-Chairmen, General Secretary, National Organiser, National Communications Officer, National Youth and Women Organisers, Zongo Caucus Coordinator, and other elected members of the National Executive Committee.
Nomination forms for national positions will cost GHS2,000, while filing fees range from GHS10,000 for ordinary NEC positions to as high as GHS100,000 for National Chairman.
The guidelines further impose strict eligibility requirements, disqualifying individuals found guilty of fraud, dishonesty, moral turpitude, or serious disciplinary breaches.
Party members holding government-appointed offices are also required to resign at least six clear months before filing nominations, with exemptions granted only to board chairpersons or board members.
The NDC has emphasised that campaigning must be conducted in a civil and respectful manner, free from insults, rancour, and political vilification. Restrictions have also been placed on campaign materials, with aspirants barred from mounting billboards nationwide and limited in the number of posters and banners permitted at congress venues.
