Accra: The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced a new directive requiring full-time government appointees who wish to pursue executive positions within the party to resign from their current roles at least six months prior to filing their nomination.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, the General Secretary of the NDC, made this announcement during a press briefing held at the party's headquarters in Accra. The directive aims to promote a transparent, fair, and disciplined reorganization process within the party. However, Mr. Kwetey clarified that chairpersons and members of boards, or those in similar positions, are exempt from this requirement as they are not deemed full-time employees.
The directive applies to various officials, including Ministers and Deputy Ministers, Chief Executive Officers, Managing Directors and their deputies, as well as Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs). To avoid confusion and administrative challenges, the party has established specific resignation deadlines based on the level of office the candidate intends to contest. Candidates for constituency-level positions must resign by April 2026, those seeking regional positions have until May 2026, and candidates for national-level offices must vacate their government posts by June 2026.
Mr. Kwetey emphasized that these provisions are firm and constitutional, stressing that they will be enforced without exception. He warned prospective candidates that there would be no room for pleas or exemptions. The reorganization process is seen as a step towards strengthening the party's internal democracy, which in turn is expected to positively impact the governance of the nation.
Mr. Kwetey urged all party members to prioritize the collective interest over personal ambitions and called on executives at all levels, from the branch to the national level, to act with integrity and transparency.