NDC Backs Supreme Court Battle Against Delegates-Based Elections | Matters Arising

Ajouté : 2026-05-27

[00:00:00]Uh let's start with something that interests all of us here.

[00:00:04]The suit by three eminent Ghanaians that every registered member of a political party must vote to determine who leads the party. Dog, I don't want to start with you. Now the NDC has found to join it. Is it a [clears throat] good move that we allow every member of a Pelka party to you know determine who leads the party and is there a good way to check monetization of our politics?

[00:00:28]>> Yes. So, I've always um called for open primaries uh for internal elections for our for our political parties. And yes, I'll admit that I initially came to that position from um a selfish place, which is in the leadup to 2016, a very good friend of mine lost the political party primary >> uh for a parliamentary seat. I believe he was the best candidate. he would have represented the people well in my opinion he was only outmuscled because of the money >> money. So I started having this thing in my mind where I said well you always hear these conversations about the buying of delegates the buying of delegates. And so I said well you have to increase the cost of buying delegates so that if it is easier to buy a number of delegates in a constituency when you have an open primary it's it becomes more costly and more challenging to try and buy an entire constituency. So that had been how I was thinking about this idea of um of open primaries and why I think it even strengthens the internal democratic process of our political parties. I've had conversations with my friends, you know, in in in both parties. Two things they always caution against is one the logistics and the cost of having an open primary. they would always draw your attention to I mean it can be extremely costly organizing the logistics around it. The other concern they have raised is whether voters from the other political party will be able to infiltrate their primaries in such a way that they get to have a say in who gets to lead their party. Right? But I also said well they there are mechanisms you can put in place.

[00:02:24]>> But isn't that even defeated by the fact that various the parties have membership drives >> precisely even yesterday I was telling a friend of mine that look you you know there are ways in which you can prevent someone who is not a member of your party trying to infiltrate to uh to vote in your in your party primary. But I again >> I'm a strong believer in the open primary system. Um I believe that it can contribute to checking the monetization of the politics because again as I keep saying uh if every registered member in good standing can vote you really increase the cost >> um and I'm sure well I'm I believe even candidates themselves should embrace this because um >> again it's more difficult to try and buy an entire constituency than it is to quote unquote buy a number of Delhi.

[00:03:21]>> But if they say it's expensive, if say you have four contestants, why don't you ask everybody bring 500,000 to support?

[00:03:29]So instead of going to look for some 10 million to come and buy people, bring 500,000, let's go and organize >> and support. Yes. And there are ways and if the you know I mean I know parties try to encourage their registered members to pay their dues and all of that you know maybe even um greater encouragement of the dues paying other things that the parties can also do to uh be in good standing to raise money financially so they can deal with some of the logistics concept. The last thing I would add is uh I think it was in the leadup to 2020 where the MDC for parliamentary used um the open um it will be >> 2016 >> 2016 yeah it will be good to also find out from them the lessons they learned from that process and why after that they shifted back to the delegate system. you know all of those things I think can help um you know help us deal with some of the questions that folks would raise about well the delegate system should be kept in place but overall I support this move for one >> I' I've read from Rasmo Mubarak who says that but for that 2016 election he would never have become a parliamentarian because he couldn't have paid the way people pay let me come to you but even there are constraints >> must the Supreme Court even agree or amassed. Should the Supreme Court go agree to that? And if they do, how do you operationalize it?

[00:04:57]>> Yeah, thank you very much. Let me even start by using this opportunity to make some education, legal education. You know, the last time we were here discussing uh the OSP case and that the AG had sided with the the petitioner.

[00:05:14]Yeah. People took issues with that. Why should the AG who is defending the state institution be siding the petitioner? Just to say that when it comes to public cases which are of public nature, public law cases, it is not mandatory that the because the attorney general is the defendant has always opposed. No, once the AG takes the view that the matter brought by the petitioner or the applicant is or the plaintiff is is is reasonable is good for the interest of the public, the AG is duty bound to agree because the AG is not that just attorney, it's also the minister for justice. So it's very important to to make this argument and I see that the AG has in this case agreed with the submission of the three eminent Ghanaians who are before the court to to block the delegate voting system. The NDC have also >> joined.

[00:06:11]>> Yes.

[00:06:12]>> Let me say that for both system the direct primary or the indirect primary as is described in Nigeria has its pros and cons. Now when we say direct primary, direct primary means that any member any member who any registered member of a political party of good standing have the right to vote to determine who leads the party in different capacity. So be it parliamentary, presidential or what have you. The indirect primary is some leaders of the party in particular position voting for and on behalf of the larger members of the party that is the indirect.

[00:06:54]Now what are the pros and cons?

[00:06:57]The issue about the indirect primary has been that oh the executives which we call the delegates you have to spend on them otherwise they will reject you. There have been instances that people say that oh like doc is saying that he believe his candidate was or his friend or his person is very good but the person couldn't win. It could be true that somebody came with a much better offer not in terms of policy but in terms of material material gains >> and the delegate bought in.

[00:07:30]So that is a major challenge. But the one of the advantages of the indirect approach is that look it saves time, it saves resources and also we are able to control the system.

[00:07:47]Now the direct primary I want to emphasize on it because the NDC believes in the direct primary. We've tried it before and I will let you know why we we we kind of drew from that approach. The direct primary basically in fact that is what is even done at the branch level currently before you elect your branch executives.

[00:08:08]All NDC registered members of good standing in their community they vote to elect their branch executives.

[00:08:18]MP uses same now to elect their pooling state. They don't call it brand, they call it police station. So their police station executives, all M P executive in that pooling station, that community vote to elect their police station executive. Now what these two parties have done over the years is to pause there and say that when we are going to elect consu executives, it is now the police station executive in the case of MP and the [clears throat] case of NDC, the branch executives comes together to vote to determine who becomes the consumer executives.

[00:08:51]Then when moving to region for region executives all the constituences in the region their executives so now the branch are off now.

[00:09:00]>> Mhm. [clears throat] >> You getting >> exactly now all the cons executives they vote to elect their regional executives.

[00:09:08]Now when it comes to national still again the police executives are off the branch executive in the case of NDC are off the cons executives the region executives the national executive former government appointees members of parliament come together to elect national executives the parties in in the past have tried to expand this system because of this same argument of monetization of the delegate system. In fact, in the just concluded PP flagship race, they expanded their electoral base to even include 10.

[00:09:44]>> Sorry, >> Tescon in the case been voting.

[00:09:47]>> Yeah, >> I'm coming. I'm coming.

[00:09:49]>> The diaspora have always been voting, but now the numbers that came from the diaspora in the MP had increased.

[00:09:55]>> I think what they did was to add former executive.

[00:09:58]>> Exactly. Exactly.

[00:10:00]in the past they used not to be.

[00:10:02]>> The idea behind the MPP in expanding the base is to make sure that they have a larger representation.

[00:10:08]>> So what these three eminent Ghanaians are saying is that let's then expand it to all members to have the right to vote. Now the question is how do you assertain that all the persons who have registered one are indeed members and how do you define good standing we need to also look at this otherwise it will bring [snorts] it will take us back to to to to what we are trying to prevent good standing is the dues if you pay your dues not so >> that's what I'm saying we need to define what good standing is if you're saying the dues fine I know In the case of ND say good standing primarily we are talking about you paying your dues up to date.

[00:10:53]>> I'm even using the GBA and other associations when they say you a member for example GJ a member in good standing it means you're a member who a paid up.

[00:11:01]I'm saying that if a political party want to restrict people who vote, they can even go a step further and say that to be in Gustan, you ought to have attended meeting for the past >> okay for the last three three m they can bring that >> you know that the MP has opposed the application by the eminent Ghanaians >> I'm not aware >> oh that's the narrative out there that's the NP do not believe believe in >> well yeah he addresses he I'm saying that is the that is the narative out there the NDC we have joined the CPP I believe I've also >> I haven't heard it >> I think the only political party we've had join is the NDC >> oh I've heard that of the CP as well I'm telling you this for a fact I haven't heard that of the NP I'm saying the narrative out there I mean we speak to our people who are in the other side of the coin but the point I'm making is that the direct primary expand the base but that does not automatically take out monetization let me say just that the monetization come in different angle which I believe is good because now if you want to influence with money you can't go and be sharing money to everybody so you have to do something for the community so it doesn't necessarily take away the money component >> I have gone through this process before in 2015 when the NC brought the biometric I contested the parliamentary prime minister for Ang I was then the con deputy secretary we are about seven the MP who was there cabinet minister honorable came first the preceding member who is now the MP came second, I came third, we were seven and I said at the time we then open up it base and all the Cadbury members voted and if you see how the voting came it reflected the the the the geography politics of the constituency.

[00:12:50]So for example in for example I won in where I he came second ina and then the MP at the time who eventually won won in area >> that was what happened in 2015 >> when everybody voted >> you get the point so the point I'm saying is that this direct primary is is good but it doesn't take out the money component save that it brings it it in a different light because if you want to convince a community to vote for you cannot be sharing money to everybody in community you may have to probably so in my case I I remember distributing SI to student integration >> I will not go and give money to excuse me to just branch executive because that's a better option >> that's what I'm saying that's what I'm saying those making the argument oh direct will take off money and it's not true because you want the community to vote for you that's essentially it the NDC members in that community to vote for you so you need to convince them and it's not just about money your service over the Yes.

[00:13:50]>> Mhm.

[00:13:50]>> Your service over the years. Now let me tell one of the reasons why the NDC red do this and that is where we may have to check. We got information. We got information from other constituency that some MP element managed to get our NDC card infiltrated our system just to push certain to vote in a in a particular manner. So it's a good system but we need to check it very well. And so I'm not surprised NDC will have joined. But what it means is that we have to check it properly so that the shortcomings I'm sure if we had continued in 2015 by now we probably would have perfected that system.

[00:14:27]>> Yeah.

[00:14:28]>> So I admit that 2015 the direct primary there were some shortcomings but this did very well should have opened the base. I told I participated I was a major player. I was a constituency deputy secretary for Angoro. I resigned to contest as parliamentary candidate.

[00:14:42]We went through the process and I'm telling you that it was a good process >> just that there were concerns that some persons who are not party people have had access to our card. We even tried doing a biometric card and all of that.

[00:14:54]Now we've gone back to the >> to the indirect primary with an expanded base. In fact just to make this finally the current system that we have that all executive voted votes in the past it used not to be so it's only the chairman I think the youth organizer the woman organizer and maybe the the secretary >> yes the secretary four they go to vote they consider the the delegate to vote across the country but in order to expand it then they now added the vice chairman >> the deputy secretary and all other members so is to tell you that the political parties we know that it's important to have a brother base that's why I've just mentioned to you that even in the MP they last ended >> presidential primaries their flagship race they expanded their electoral college >> to accommodate more members for example members of the diaspora they had increased the former appointees former MC's and all of that were allowed to vote just because they wanted a larger and a broader base so that when they taking a decision It reflect what majority want. If that is the case, why not open it for those in good standing members to vote but the question is how we must define what good standing is so that no political party now brings laws clause and oh to be in good standing then you may have to be in the party for the past 5 years 10 years and all of that we need to define all of this. Thank you >> Lord. So let me come to you. How can the Supreme Court use this case?

[00:16:25]>> Yes. to help us answer the question of who is is is a member in good standing.

[00:16:30]>> Well um so then again I will answer the question but I think it's important to also give it a certain um >> the kind of his political landscape that we have uh unfortunately has been reduced to a two-party system >> and that two-party system means that all the time you would have uh one dominant political party and another subservient.

[00:16:54]In this particular instance, you'd have the NDC and the MPP do so interchangeably. So at one point, you see that the NDC is dominous and then the MPP is subservient >> to the NDC. Now look it is very very important to understand the reasoning behind the delegate voting system that finds expression in what's arguably you know gives credence to setting up of political parties which is in article 55 of the constitution right now what the constitution says is that all political parties and their own internal arrangements must must find expression within the confines of law >> and so whatever it is that is being done within those political parties must be democrat ratic or must be a semblance or a reflection of democratic experiment.

[00:17:43]To this end, I believe that whatever activities are backed upon for instance by the NDC or the MPP in as much as it is in conssonus with our provisions in the constitution, I have I don't have anything wrong. I don't I don't see anything wrong with that. Now, political parties decide to choose a system which best works for them. So for instance, M P can decide that we want to at this point explore the possibility of direct delegate system or indirect delegate system depending on where they are politically because it would interest you to know that sometimes when it becomes so important then they must adopt a system that settles their hopeful expectation of electing the leader who will lead them within that particular political you know uh framework if you Like so to that end that decision albeit that to the generality of the people it may not necessarily be palatable that is what best solves their problem and that is why if you check and if you go back into history you would notice that even the NBC at one point expanded their electoral college because at that material moment they needed that to solve a political problem. So it is always trying to solve a political question that will give birth to a decision to either use the direct delegate system or the indirect delegate system.

[00:19:07]>> Now the bottom line is [clears throat] that you must ensure that it you know it is in full concernance with article 55 of the constitution.

[00:19:18]That is why political parties have their own constitutions and that is why they organize elections based on their constitutions.

[00:19:26]Now the argument against the delegate system is that oh it is creating a system of political monocray. It is creating a system of what we call clientalism and so we need to expand the base so that people will not get money to pay everybody in order that we can shrink that system of monocy. But this is a mere conjecture.

[00:19:46]>> Oh >> it is an assumption. You are assuming that by expanding the base you will cail monocy. So that in itself is not a definitive you know you cannot make a definitive statement in that regard >> because sir >> you you build systems on experiences.

[00:20:06]>> Yes >> we have a test case then did it in 2015.

[00:20:10]>> Yes. [clears throat] >> If you listen to him >> he didn't talk about money.

[00:20:14]>> Mhm.

[00:20:14]>> He rather said in that expense you need to then do project for the community.

[00:20:19]>> Yes.

[00:20:19]>> You won't go and pay one person 10,000.

[00:20:21]Some people pay dollars as we see.

[00:20:23]>> Yes.

[00:20:24]>> Isn't that a better way to do it?

[00:20:25]>> And we see what is what is inherent or hiding [clears throat] behind a cloak or of that narrative is also the issue of ethnic well ethnic conversations because he said that you remember he said that the people within his community voted for him.

[00:20:42]>> Mhm.

[00:20:42]>> So yes so largely voted for him. What it means is that they didn't I'm not saying you are not intelligent or you are not qualified but what it means is that people naturally will gravitate towards him. Those people who live in the community will gravitate towards him as opposed to you.

[00:20:55]>> This is also for the system.

[00:20:57]>> Yeah.

[00:20:57]>> The branch executive from that community also vote for you.

[00:20:59]>> Well I mean so so it means that we are seeing the same thing. It means that both systems have its own pros and cons and those pros and cons are the same are similar but in terms of the money they are similar now different. No, I mean look, let's let's face it.

[00:21:15]>> We go to vote for people because we believe that those people >> may be able to lead the party into victory. That's why we vote for people.

[00:21:24]>> The conversation about the delegate system >> is so that we will expand the base because the presumption is that people do not have I mean the presumption is is that it is capital intensive.

[00:21:36]>> So let's expand it so that others will not be able to get their money to compete. But I'm saying that similarly hiding within that constricted narrative is also the fact that there's also the possibility that expanding it would mean spending more money.

[00:21:54]>> Mhm.

[00:21:54]>> Expanding it would also mean spending more money.

[00:21:56]>> How so?

[00:21:57]>> Now let me let me understand that point because I don't >> So what I'm saying is that okay so we have two systems but we want to explore two systems. At [clears throat] one point you would notice that the NP even explored the expansive system at one point. At one point the NDC also expanded the I mean tried the expansive system right why did they reverse to the uh the constricted delegates >> as they told you they felt some MP people were infiltrated there >> but that is that is another disadvantage of expanding you know expanding the whole process I'm saying simply that if that is a major dis dis incentive for expanding the electoral system then that is actually a very good point for which reason you don't you don't to expand because you see you want to elect a leader who represents you a leader that you are comfortable knowing that you are the ones who went and voted for them. I asked him a question I said how does the delegate system work? Then he said, "Oh, it is the polling station executives who will now go and vote and elect people who will then become delegate and vote."

[00:22:59]Which means that there's a direct representation of the grassroots >> albeit that they are all not going to vote. The grassroot is like members of parliament.

[00:23:09]>> You cannot have all of us in parliament.

[00:23:11]That is why we go and we vote for one person to go and represent us. To that end I'm saying that the expansion or narrowing it is not really a matter in it should not be a matter which is uh which should be in dispute. I am simply saying that the disputation is arising out of a certain interest that perhaps people may may may may have everybody politics is about interest. So the conversation that we are pushing or the narrative that we are pushing may not be born out from a place of honesty. That is the or truthfulness. Yes, that's that's the point.

[00:23:47]>> They've mentioned they mentioned monetization recently. We just saw a primary, right?

[00:23:51]>> Yes. [clears throat] >> Now, it was a bi-election.

[00:23:54]>> Yes.

[00:23:54]>> Let's assume that we saw people taking television. Yes.

[00:23:56]>> And we've seen this in in past. So, let's assume that he had some 500 people.

[00:24:00]>> Yes.

[00:24:01]>> The television set cost you,500.

[00:24:03]>> That's 750,000 cities. Now if the same 500 people is what the guy feels that I can pay,52 to win that's another 750,000 that's what 1.5 million isn't it?

[00:24:17]>> Yes.

[00:24:17]>> On the election day it's a 1.5 million.

[00:24:19]>> Yes.

[00:24:20]>> You see other places where people pay even 10,000 to people. Are we saying that if we expand >> the person will spend more than if we had to do just paying 500 people. So let's say you are looking at 500,000 delegates.

[00:24:35]>> All right. And it is not look let nobody deceive you that they won't still spend money.

[00:24:42]>> Wondering here perhaps may not tell you that he spent money but obviously will spend money.

[00:24:45]>> Oh yes. So the point so no problem. So multiply 500,000 delegates by even a thousand.

[00:24:52]>> It won't be 500,000 at least >> the delegates. No. If you're opening up BUT YOU HAVE OVER 2 million people who belong to the ND. Are you looking at the constituency? You're looking at national elections. No, but you're looking at primary of course if this goes through >> and the Supreme Court makes a determination >> it binds all elections internal elections >> which would also mean >> so your argument is from the absolutely let's not look at it from hold on respectfully let's not just look at it from the perspective of the constituency level okay even within the conituency take a con like >> all right and the number of votes MP had in that constituency the number of votes NDC had in that constituency So let's assume that we are using that that as as a a test case right we are saying that we had over well over 400,000 right >> yes >> over over what was the the the the numbers in in that conuency was >> we're doing some 60,000 80,000 >> so let's let's pay it 100,000 >> and you are saying that if you're paying even one person a thousand Ghana cities multiply that by >> no 100 you no >> oh no I'm just saying no but you don't know what people would no but when it come you you've expanded the system everybody everybody is voting Agreed.

[00:26:00]>> Okay, let let's go let's go by 100,000 >> and you're paying thousands at this right here. Let me help you brace.

[00:26:07]>> Let him finish.

[00:26:08]>> Let him finish.

[00:26:08]>> In 2007, just to add to your numbers you want to put across.

[00:26:12]>> That's 100 million.

[00:26:13]>> In just 100 million. Relax. Relax.

[00:26:15]Somebody can get it.

[00:26:17]>> Somebody can get it. I'll tell you what.

[00:26:19]>> 100 million.

[00:26:20]>> That's 100 million. And you'll be surprised. I am saying that. Look, >> people get vehicles. But let me >> look brace. How much do you sell? Do you buy uh one vehicle? Because you see >> if you so if you expand that is the downside. I am not I'm simply saying that we should be measured in our attempt to change the political landscape. We should be measured.

[00:26:42]>> It is not at all times that we must push a certain agenda because it favors or it it satisfies our interest. I don't want us to do that because in the final analysis >> it is the Ghanaian people who will make that determination father >> now where we are today I am simply still saying that we have explored both the direct and the indirect and all of them have their pros and cons which pros and cons is the same >> okay >> if if if it's similar if not the same so I am saying that I don't support this and you see my curiosity even heightened when I noticed that the NDC as a political party has had joined the case.

[00:27:26]I'm wondering why why is the so interested why is the NDC so interested because you know that the NDC will be going for their primaries very soon >> but the determination will affect them >> the determination will affect them >> but the NB is also going to >> go but why hasn't MP joined >> let me make this >> why are so you need to either oppose or join because you see we need to have a clear path forward I am unsettled I'm very unsettled about the way we are going about this because when it becomes law it binds political parties and so it will affect their own internal operations and those internal operations must only only find expression in democracy and that is what article 55 talks about. So I want if you have to join join if the my colleagues from the other side or the civil side organizations should also join we should all join because in the final analysis doesn't only affect the NBC or the NPP it affects all of us are you following so and the problem for me finally is that this will be an avenue of massive corruption and I'm serious about it because you see today somebody is ah why didn't NP when they were doing Yeah, the one that uh this guy lost, what's his name? Uh your former your former general secretary.

[00:28:51]>> John Buu lost. You know the monies they all spent and that was the the expansive system, right?

[00:28:55]>> No, no, it wasn't. It wasn't.

[00:28:57]>> That was not expensive.

[00:28:57]>> No, it wasn't. [laughter] >> It was an expensive expensive.

[00:29:01]>> No, no, no. But what we held that no, but what you've done in your Yes. It's more than the last one. Yes. I agree. But what I'm saying is that yes, so throughout so you see the political parties now will test them and see which one best works for them. We should allow them test make their own mistakes and learn from it. That's it.

[00:29:23]>> I said I'll bring you but he wants to clarification. Just one minute.

[00:29:26]>> Just one minute. You see we may probably the case before the court. We may probably have to get a clear clarification from what they they want because >> when we talk about direct and indirect primaries >> right >> it has to do with the inner positions and outer position. And I'll clarify what the 2015 system that NDC implemented was for outer positions. So for example, positions such as parliamentary candidate after you are elected you have to go and face the MPP or you have to go for a general election.

[00:29:56]>> Yeah. a flag contest you have to go for a general election but position like constituency chairman regional chairman national chairman it's an internal you don't go for any any so that we use the delegate we use even 2015 we use a delegate system for those positions because we come to work for the party so the the branch executives or the conser executives will determine who should be the national chairman I disagree >> I'm coming hold on hold on I'm telling you that you are referring to the system we use 2015 and I want to make this clarification that even in 2015 15 the biometric system was for the parliamentary primaries and the presidential primaries and the explanation was that for those primaries you have to go for a general election.

[00:30:38]So we wanted people who have that national appeal or appeal in the constituency. So you need a system where a lot of people will vote almost everybody that has a card will vote but for a position of con chairman we >> So you had a two you use that to >> Yes. So the matter before the court we need to know.

[00:30:58]>> Okay.

[00:30:58]>> Are they saying that if you want to pick let's say regional chairman you should let all members of the NDC in the region go to become. It's important we get this clarification.

[00:31:07]>> Eron come in here. I I want to hear you go on.

[00:31:10]>> He interjected. That's why I just wanted to you landed and I gave him that. Eron I I want you to also tell us how your 2020 primaries went. I'll do it.

[00:31:21]>> You had it in various areas.

[00:31:22]>> I'll do I'll deal with that. Um, whenever someone is inviting you for a dinner, the first thing you must ask is the setting of the dinner and the person you are dealing with.

[00:31:36]>> And this NDC joining the suit together with the AG also agreeing with the plaintiff is one I would never in my life advise the MPP to their lie. And I'll tell you why.

[00:31:50]Because you see it is not the first time an an attorney general has agreed with the plaintiff. I have a case here Nabu the third versus attorney general talking about the and lands commission EI 108. Even when the attorney general agreed with the plaintiffs the Supreme Court even came in to rule against the plaintiff and also the argument of the attorney general. So whether the AG would agree with the plaintiffs or not, >> certainly the law would be put in their place or or in in its place. Let me put it that way. Now the NDC supporting the ages argument and the timing is coming.

[00:32:27]Council over here was just playing around it. He didn't want to even on earth it. And I'm telling you this is a clear agenda against one person in their political party because of the times.

[00:32:38]And I'll tell you why.

[00:32:39]>> Which person?

[00:32:40]>> Yes. I I I'll mention to do you know why I'm mentioning that if the AG is taking a certain position, we should be careful. The deputy attorney general taught me constitutional law. He's my lecturer. I like him so much because he's brilliant and he even advocate that we should be bold. But the first time he agreed with a certain plaintiff, I looked at the narrative and the trajectory and I saw there was an agenda. Let's pick the OSP matter. In the OSP matter, this is Justice Sha.

[00:33:07]printed his Facebook post to you. This is on the 26th of November 2025 telling the whole country that some of his left tenants including Oliver Roma including Noat are the ones taking him to court. I felt that it is normal because some these are your friends these are your left tenant. Then quickly the same deputy attorney general you know whenever he mentions or announces a case on his wall then it is a politically charged one then he comes to tell us 14 days later 2 weeks later on the 10th of December 2025 that a certain citizen then I ask who is a certain citizen this was your people in your chamber why the um coloring him as a certain citizen a certain citizen that you don't even know Then some 7 days later Noah comes in to praise him. Then we get to know that the same deputy attorney general is agreeing with the argument of Noah. Fair enough deal with that matter. Now we we come on the NDC primaries and why they even agreeing with this eminent men. I am not expecting and I don't expect any panel member here to tell me that the NDC will be disagreeing with the AG's position.

[00:34:19]It is the party that b the government and when they are taking the AG is taking any decision that will affect the party they will consult the party. You get it? And so for the NDC agreeing to this I can boldly tell you that there was even a conversation between the two political parties to oppose this and later all of a sudden the NP wakes up to see the director legal of the NDC moving in to say that they are agreeing with the submission of >> both parties agree that they should oppose the motion. There was a conversation that is what we were told from our director lia at the national executive council meeting the next meeting that is what we were told >> probably is not an official meeting that is what he he informed us that that is the position they are going to take and all of a sudden we are having this and I'm telling you that the agenda is against the national chairman who stood at Tamil South and who is preparing to become a presidential candidate in in in just some time to come and I'll tell you why >> but the men suit precedes his >> I'm not disputing the main suit precedes that >> he had a lot of time it is it was only when he went to comment in Tamil south that generated a whole lot of controversy you heard Haru Nau in Savana when he was responding to General did you listen to him he said that Mr. President, you cannot say it. Some of us can see it.

[00:35:38]>> In front of the president.

[00:35:40]>> Put the politics aside. Why we don't have the video? Why you want to use our intelligence on this? Put the politics aside. I listen to Doc. Doc, your concern is very legitimate on monetization. But let me give you example. In my own political party in 2007, Doc, it was only five people from each constituency voting for the presidential election. After that the former president said that that is bad. He wrote a petition to our national council and they took a decision at the national council to expand. So now we have we were before the current expansion we are having five police station executives an electoral area coordinator constituency executive about 17 council of elders and patron the member of parliament to join then we move we replicate same at the regional level and the national level. So we had a very expansive system. Still the monetization continued.

[00:36:37]Then this one again we now expanded it to the standards. We are even adding all former executives who are not dead. So even when you were a former executive or an executive in ' 92, you still voted in the last primaries. But [clears throat] still we saw money exchanging hands. So >> wasn't on the lower on the lower level.

[00:36:56]Now let me tell you if you want to spend let's say on 500 delegates maybe you want to give them 10,000 Ghana cities.

[00:37:04]Now you want to spend on let's say um 5,000 delegates even if you cannot give them the 5,000 Ghana cities you are going to give them say 500 Ghana cities but have you calculated the amount that is coming out of it >> impact is not >> you get it doc no matter the situation the money will increase monetization can be cured by the political parties we have not dealt with it we all saw what happened at um is it Ayawasu east or so look at the excuse the NDC gave because of um time constraint. They are not going to um elect or go for another election or cancel the election. If if you're a political party, your internal rules can tell you that you can appoint you can select and you can elect somebody to move to represent so far as it complies with it. Prof or do I I I have forgotten the title or the designation. I want you to understand that when it comes to democracy and we are even dating it back to the Greek times it was only males who were voting then they included everyone. It is because we cannot all of us cannot participate in the system. That is why we elect people to represent us in the chamber. We have 276 representing over 35 million Ghanaians. Are we saying that we we are not qualified to sit there in the chamber? But we elect one person.

[00:38:23]But on real quick though, those 276 are quote unquote directly elected, right? Everyone in the constituency gets >> so have a let me let me even explain how the MP are you preparing to become an MP or something. [laughter] I'm going to explain to >> Yes.

[00:38:43]But but I'm coming.

[00:38:44]>> We all we all eager to kill the >> Yes.

[00:38:47]>> monetization of our democracy. That's all.

[00:38:50]>> I'm I'm coming now. pick the M PP system. If we want to elect you or the when we are doing our reorganization, if you you want to be a delegate at the polling station level, you're a polling station executive, it is because you are going for conference, then we give you a tag that you a delegate. Even we allow our members to come to conference but they cannot vote. What happened is that we have let's say um this is Kokim polling station. We put all party members together and give them a date that for the purpose of our internal democracy come and elect your executives.

[00:39:28]So they come directly to elect let's say five let's say 10 executive the 10 now elect an electoral area coordinator. Now the MPP has even expanded electoral area coordinators to make them five. Put them together. Now the electoral area coordinators together with the polling station executive elect the constituency executives. Then the constituency executives now together with conituency executives come together with within the region elect regional executives. Then the constituency executive together with the regional executives elect the national executive. We end there. Now, when it comes to the uh parliamentary election and the presidential election, every single delegate, including the polling station executive, vote for the presidential candidate. You know why?

[00:40:16]Because he's going to represent the entire party. You get it? The entire party at the national level. When it is for the member of parliament or parliamentary candidate, every delegate within the constituency does. So, you see, there shouldn't be any attempt. I'm hoping our laws will hear us out that the Supreme Court will be determining the internal democratic organization of a political party council.

[00:40:43]>> Doc, I have several rulings from the US that brought this democracy and I'm going to read some to you and even bring it on the point you made. Now, if that interpretation of judgment they give is in conssonance with the constitution, would that be on? I I'll read the constitution to you.

[00:41:01]>> Prof. Democratic Party of the United States versus Wisconsin x real is it la >> 450 US107. The Supreme Court ruled that the state cannot force a national political party to seat delegate chosen in a manner contrary to the party's own internal rules. The freedom of a political party to gather in an association for the purpose of advancing shared political beliefs is protected by the first and 14th amendment. They go ahead in Kashi Kashigan versus the Republican party of Connecticut that the court reaffirmed that political parties have a constitutionally protected right to define the association. State regulations cannot substantially burden a party's choice of whom it allows to participate in its delegate selection and primary process. If you read law, council is here, he's a lawyer, you would agree that even these rulings I've read are having persuasive effect. They are not of binding nature. I'm bringing you home.

[00:42:05]>> You mentioned our constitution. Read article 55 that talks about organization of political parties. More importantly, clause 5 of article 55 says reads, "The internal organization of a political party shall conform to the democratic principles and its actions and purposes shall not contravene or be inconsistent with this constitution or any other law.

[00:42:28]The truth is >> if you look at our constitution, article 1 clause 2 is clear that this constitution shall be the supreme law of Ghana and any other law that is found to be inconsistent with any of the provisions of this constitution shall be declared null and void or totally void.

[00:42:43]So if the MPP's constitution >> is in contravention of the constitution, it is even void from onset. So if you are doing this, it means that it is constitutionally accepted. Now >> baba, hold on. I want you to read the provision you just read. Yeah. The 555 or the one two5 it says the internal organizations of a political party shall conform to democratic principles and its actions and purposes shall not contravene or be inconsistent with this constitution or any other law. What if the Supreme Court >> What if the Supreme Court what the Supreme Court uh uh interpret you know interprets this to mean that the democratic principles means every member in good standing of the party man's party >> when it comes to interpretation [laughter] we all constitutional interpretation it is seized with the Supreme Court and I like how they put it in espartosa they said that they guard their interpretative jurisdiction If they make a deter he's a lawyer's book on interpretation even settles this matter >> no if you read a case of and another versus t and others >> the supreme court this same supreme court says that when it comes to the internal activities of any organization or body mostly they house the jurisdiction iction of the court. But you cannot totally house the jurisdiction of the court because the court can come in on only four grounds.

[00:44:19]>> Only four grounds. One where there is a threatening breach of rules of natural justice. One. Two where there is a breach of the rules of natural justice.

[00:44:29]So first one is you threaten to breach or two where there is a total breach.

[00:44:33]Third one is that where the matter to be resolved by domestic tribunal is one of the offenses or act which offends public policy. And the last one is where the matter falls outside the arbitration clause.

[00:44:45]>> Bruce, let's get it this clear.

[00:44:48]>> If there is any attempt to determine how supreme the political party should deal with, then the essence of forming political parties would even be lost because I come to I can come to your constituency. I'm an MPP person. Let's say I'm a national executive. I come to um I forot Hunter West.

[00:45:05]>> I come to a Hunter West. Maybe a hunter west is made of the hunters and >> fanties group.

[00:45:14]>> I can just look at the political dynam dynamics. Oh, NDC is presenting an evaluation. They are fighting among themselves. The aantes are more in the said constituency. Political party. My first goal is to get the political power. I can now sit my party people down. You please, we beg you. We'll find a place for you. Sit down. We need this seat. Let's put brace up for the MP.

[00:45:41]Just as an what you doing anyway.

[00:45:46]>> Let's put let's say what?

[00:45:48]>> No brace.

[00:45:49]>> No, no, no. Use brace. [laughter] >> No, you use a bless.

[00:45:53]>> You use me. Let's go.

[00:45:54]>> No. Let me use.

[00:45:55]>> No, no, no. You use me. Let's put him.

[00:45:59]>> No, he first rejected.

[00:46:00]>> No, I [laughter] accepted. He's accepted.

[00:46:02]>> He first rejected. You use me. Let's use armor. Let's put >> don't use don't use >> okay let's use breeze breeze I need the political award that is the essence of it was it democratically done because even in company company law council would agree with me that even when the company has its own internal regulations or constitution they can even meet as a certain place all the members would agree and sign that we've taken a decision we go away so you see this attempt and the attempt as I mentioned is to see and I'm going to explain the political bit of it council relax you are here I know you want to defend I'll tell you why brace let me give you a typical example don't stop me you can even deduct other time but let me explain this you see >> the in discipline in the NDC is caused by he himself and I'll tell you why I'll tell you why if council's mother is dead using an example >> my mother is actually dead so you can use >> would you imagine that can I go to his his mother's funeral and go and cry more than him.

[00:47:07]>> No.

[00:47:08]>> Who went to the election?

[00:47:09]>> You can't cry more.

[00:47:10]>> John Damani Mahama the president flag bearer president and if any thanksgiving should be done in this country it should have been done by him. He's doing it and we are having another party chairman and he's throwing tantrums and you see equally how Haru Naidisu also responded to him was bad. But you see if you find a national chairman chairman describing a member of parliament who has served as majority chief whip >> minority chief whip sports minister now interior minister as an other guy then they will find a way to oust you and this attempt is a clear attempt even with this we are we are not even going to deal with that that one is your own palava you want to oust him because would now be castr >> okay >> we going to campaign You want to take him out of the contest. It is bad. Don't do that to somebody who has served your party till now. You want you want to support Julia.

[00:48:07]You want to support the chief of staff who cannot crack the whip but go ahead to cry view once. I thought it was only WhatsApp. You can send me he cried view once you want to support him and gag the party. Why do you want to do to this to [laughter] somebody who has served as general secretary for 17 good years? Are you answering my brother? 17 good years and a national chairman a three term member of parliament >> and the campaign manager for >> I don't even campaign manager for somebody who is going on thank you listen to the three people where do you stand they still believe we should go ahead to expand it >> yes I mean I as I have mentioned I've always been a believer in the open primary I understand some of the concerns >> how let's say if the court comes down to say that this is inconsistent with democratic principles uh Because bottom [snorts] line that is the case of the plaintiffs right is the delegate system >> right is the delegate system democratic or not let's say the court comes down and says it is it is not democratic uh because it's you can't reconcile it with the democratic principle of universal suffrage one person one vote then I do understand some of these concerns I mean how do you deal with the logistics of it how does it truly curb the money issue you know in our elections or not So I understand all of those concerns. How you operationalize it is a real issue.

[00:49:27]But ultimately as I've made it clear for me I still am a big believer in the open primary uh system for uh internal party elections. And even before this lawsuit if you recall the constitution review committee that is also one of their recommendations that we move away from the delegate system >> uh to make the system even more democratic and more representative to go to an open primary. All right. Okay.

[00:49:54]Good. You are you you are smiling.

[00:49:56][laughter] >> When you're at the law school, >> you always want to quote every small you want to quote cases. So I was just looking at Iran where he's at the law school.

[00:50:07]>> No, but it was beautiful. It was beautiful to watch him >> all of that. You know how he was cutting the laws and going about it.

[00:50:11]>> I want us to stick to the issues. You see in the submission he said that look the NDC has joined the case because the ND want to prevent the national chairman honorable John from becoming the flag brother. He made he said that here >> but but but again again let me say that the the cases he mentioned have some relevance to the one at the Supreme Court now but as you said it is it is more of persuasive of course you know and so binding the court binding they will look at the reason of course those cases but also look at the facts I didn't want because of time I just didn't want to go into the fact of those cases he just gave the principles the ratio that's okay But to the specific allegation that he said that the NDC joined the case at the Supreme Court in in the manner in which we did because we want to prevent the national chairman.

[00:51:08]Let me just inform you that the national chairman of the party by virtue of being the chairman of the party is the chairman for fake the functional executive committee and make the nationality committee of the party. No decision such as joining a case can be taken without fake.

[00:51:25]at the bare minimum. So it cannot be that the NDC has joined a case in the manner which we did because I'm saying that don't support >> oh my brother >> my brother the NDC have not opened nominations nobody's campaigning for anything you understand we'll come back to the time but I just want to make it clear here okay that the position of the NDC we have demonstrated it before in 2015 we actually went for a direct primary at that time were you going to say that the NDC you use that option because of or not because no you don't go on that tangent because the fact and let me also say here >> thank you >> he no he let me say here he talked about the the thank you to the nature of the thank you talk the president is on a reset tour what the chairman of the party did is because of how we campaign in 2024 because the strength of the MPP 2024 as a party in government they able to do larger rallies big big rallies but then we decentralize our campaign where you have the the president the flag bearer the running mate moving separately the national chairman moving separately in fact the national chairman has said in one of those campaigns that if the indicate victory he will come back for a thank you tour so the national chairman has explained why he's on on on his tour the president and some ministers are rightly on a reset tour >> I do not see >> I will not be here to say that there is fight or friction within the party of course.

[00:52:59]>> Let me >> All right. I'm We need to move. I've g enough time on this particular matter. Now >> Oh no, no. You I give you a lot of time on on this debate. Have you had you had the most [laughter] blackmail?

[00:53:18]But but I don't know what he's talking about.

[00:53:20]>> We all jump into our hand.

[00:53:21]>> I don't know what you're talking about.

[00:53:22]>> But you said I should use you. Mh.

[00:53:24]>> Why should the journalist?

[00:53:25]>> But you used to me already. I said keep it.

[00:53:27]>> You declined it. And I decided to use armor.

[00:53:30]>> And I said, >> you said I should keep it. I keep it.

[00:53:32]But it means you like it.

[00:53:33]>> No. No. It helps us to. It helps the explanation you are given.

[00:53:39]Changing the name brace and bringing armor doesn't [laughter] exactly.

[00:53:46]There is no other man in a hunter.

[00:53:49]>> Oh no. [laughter] My sister is armor.

[00:53:51]But my sister does not. is not talking about >> she's running from the show to my my sister is >> you're doing this to me.

[00:53:58]>> I'm not doing anything.

[00:53:59]>> Pray that pray that the party does not elect me to come and [laughter] let Do I even know what you're talking about?

[00:54:09]>> No. So, Brace, let me tell you.

[00:54:11]>> I pray they do. They said that you go and face them.

[00:54:13]>> Brace, let me tell I'm not saying the same people. So, go and face them. But brace let me tell him that if John can campaign that's exactly what he wanted go on a thank you tour did you you did you go for your thank you did go for his chairman is dabilizing moving around and calling a whole interior minister the other guy >> he's crying more than you know if your court is not stabilized the government cannot work on let's move on >> the government let's move on you are shouting at >> [laughter] >> I'm in opposition even suspended their general secretary, suspended the national chairman. They have to pour acid on the national talking about >> but you know this is how you are developing.

[00:55:01]>> You are grabbing this political communication thing too fast. Now for you to make your point you have to gag even the host. When someone try you said they were gagging [laughter] you but what you're doing you are gagging.

[00:55:12]>> You're making an allegation against my but what are you doing now? Look at what you said. What you said is to guide me to allow you to make a point to him. I only stated I Let's move on. Let's make