The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced that individuals seeking positions in the government cannot simultaneously hold executive positions within the party.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Thursday, January 29, 2026, the General Secretary of the party, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, stated that government appointees who wish to contest party positions must resign from their governmental offices.
He explained that the directive is part of measures implemented by the National Executive Committee of the party. Government appointees who intend to hold party positions are required to resign at least six clear months before submitting their nomination forms.
“Any person seeking to contest for a party position who currently holds an office to which he or she was appointed by the president or the government must resign from that office at least six clear months before filing nomination forms.
“Chairpersons and members of boards or persons in analogous positions are excluded from this restriction. Why? Because they are not full-time employees,” he said.
He further clarified, “The affected officers include, but are not limited to, ministers and deputy ministers; chief executive officers, their deputies or analogous officers; Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives.”
The General Secretary noted that the move aims to ensure that party officeholders can focus fully on their duties, particularly ahead of the 2028 general election.
“The NDC is a big party, and it cannot continue to have people holding positions in both the government and the party because it has enough qualified people,” he added.
Fifi Kwetey also stressed that branch executives must conduct their meetings and elections at published venues and times to promote transparency.
“In order to address and eliminate what really happens virtually in many political parties in this part of the world and many other places — what we call mafia activities, which include intimidation and wrong tactics — the party expects all constituency executives to publicly announce and publish their official meeting venues for every branch within the constituency.
“For clarity, by-elections shall be conducted at the same approved venues and at the same scheduled time as the regular branch meetings are done,” he said.
The General Secretary further announced that the party will begin its internal elections with branch primaries between January 2026 and May 2026.
He outlined the election calendar as follows: constituency elections from September 2026 to August 2027, regional executive elections from October to November 2026, and the national executive election in December 2026.
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