BY ISSAH OLEGOR
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has ordered all members and aspirants participating in its ongoing internal elections to remove or adjust oversized campaign posters and banners within five days, warning that anyone who disregards the directive will face disciplinary action.
The directive, issued by the party’s Functional Executive Committee (FEC) in a press release dated October 9, 2026, seeks to regulate the display of campaign materials across the country as competition intensifies for various constituency and regional executive positions.
Under the new rules, campaign posters and banners must not exceed five feet in width and eight feet in height. The party has also restricted the display of such materials to designated locations, specifically constituency offices, regional offices and election grounds.
The decision follows concerns raised by the FEC over what it describes as the increasing display of oversized campaign posters and banners by some members and aspirants in various parts of the country.
According to the statement, the committee discussed the matter extensively at its meeting on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, and concluded that measures were necessary to maintain order, discipline and a level playing field for all contestants.
The party believes that unrestricted displays of campaign materials could create an uneven environment for aspirants, particularly where candidates with greater financial resources can afford larger posters and more prominent advertising installations than their competitors.
The latest directive is therefore intended to establish uniform standards for campaign publicity and prevent the party’s internal elections from becoming dominated by extravagant displays.
The FEC further argued that the NDC, as the governing party, must demonstrate modesty and restraint in its internal political activities.
It said the party must lead by example and avoid displays of extravagance, or perceptions of it, that could contradict the values it promotes and the expectations of Ghanaians.
The committee’s position suggests that the regulation is not limited to the physical size of posters and banners but also reflects the party leadership’s desire to maintain a modest public image during its internal electoral process.
Under the directive, all aspirants whose campaign materials do not comply with the new requirements have been given five days from the issuance of the notice to make the necessary adjustments.
The deadline places immediate responsibility on candidates and their supporters to inspect campaign installations, reduce the size of oversized materials where necessary and ensure that posters and banners are displayed only at approved locations.
The NDC has cautioned that failure to comply voluntarily could attract sanctions under the party’s Constitution, Electoral Guidelines and other applicable directives.
The FEC stated that any deliberate disregard of the order would attract appropriate disciplinary action, although the statement did not specify the exact penalties that could be imposed on offenders.
The directive comes as the NDC advances its internal reorganisation programme, which includes elections for constituency and regional executive positions
The party’s internal elections are important to its organisational structure because constituency and regional executives are responsible for grassroots mobilisation, coordination of party activities and implementation of decisions taken by the national leadership.
Competition for these positions often generates intense campaigning, with aspirants using posters, banners, community engagements and other publicity strategies to introduce themselves to delegates and party members.
However, the growing visibility of campaign materials has prompted the party leadership to establish clearer boundaries for how aspirants can promote their candidatures.
The five-day compliance period is expected to require some aspirants to reorganise their publicity campaigns, particularly those who have already installed large banners or displayed posters outside the locations now permitted by the party.
The restriction on display locations also means that campaign materials placed at unauthorised public locations will have to be removed or relocated to constituency offices, regional offices or election grounds to comply with the directive.
The NDC has nevertheless acknowledged the enthusiasm and commitment of its members and aspirants, expressing confidence that they will cooperate with the new rules. The party’s leadership maintains that the measures are necessary to preserve discipline, promote fairness and ensure that the reorganisation exercise proceeds in an orderly manner.
The statement was signed by Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, General Secretary of the NDC, who urged all members and aspirants to be guided accordingly.
