Accra: Japhet Festus Gbede, Assemblymember for the Wuxor Have and Sremanu Electoral Area and member of the Volta Regional Communication Team of the NDC, has raised concerns over ongoing legal arguments that aim to depict Ghana's delegate system as undemocratic.
According to Ghana Web, Gbede argued that while such legal positions might seem appealing theoretically, they overlook the practical aspects of political organization and electoral competition in Ghana. In a statement on his official Facebook page, he emphasized that politics is inherently influenced by organization, popularity, and financial power, and that expanding internal party elections to include all card-bearing members would not automatically eradicate the influence of money in politics or ensure equal opportunities for all aspirants.
Gbede highlighted that those with substantial financial resources would continue to dominate the political process. He cautioned that expanding elections could lead to increased costs, making it more challenging for political parties to manage internal elections. He questioned the state's financial readiness to support such a transition and whether the Electoral Commission could handle the logistics of printing thousands of ballots and deploying officials nationwide for various primaries.
He also raised concerns about the potential for party structures to be infiltrated by individuals holding multiple party cards, with the intent to manipulate internal outcomes. While acknowledging that no democratic system is perfect, Gbede insisted that any reforms to Ghana's political processes should be informed by practicality, consultation, political maturity, and the broader national interest.
Furthermore, the NDC communicator urged the Attorney General to prioritize addressing corruption-related issues and recovering alleged stolen state resources. He emphasized that many Ghanaians voted for the current government with expectations of accountability and justice, and that these should be the focus rather than legal positions that might introduce confusion and financial strain within political parties.