Ahmed Ibrahim Warns Supreme Court Ruling on Delegate System Could Marginalise Minority Communities

The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has cautioned that the Supreme Court’s decision to abolish the political party delegate system, while constitutionally justified, could unintentionally weaken the political representation of minority ethnic groups across Ghana.

Speaking after the landmark ruling, the minister argued that replacing the delegate system with a broader voting model for party primaries risks favouring larger communities in ethnically diverse constituencies, making it increasingly difficult for smaller groups to secure parliamentary candidates.

Although he acknowledged the legal basis of the judgment, Ahmed Ibrahim maintained that its social implications deserve careful consideration.

“If the Supreme Court is bringing this kind of rule, it is constitutionally right but socially discriminatory because minority tribes will not be represented,” he stated.

According to the minister, constituencies with mixed ethnic populations could witness political dominance by majority communities, reducing opportunities for minority groups to produce Members of Parliament and potentially weakening Ghana’s tradition of inclusive political participation.

The concerns come as political parties begin assessing how to comply with the court’s directive, which requires them to replace the delegate system with a more inclusive electoral process within the next year.

Adding another dimension to the debate, Tamale Central MP Professor Alidu Mahama Seidu warned that expanding the voting base for party primaries could significantly increase campaign costs for aspirants.

He argued that candidates would be forced to engage a much larger number of party members than under the delegate system, driving up expenditure on mobilisation, outreach and campaign logistics.

According to Prof. Seidu, the financial burden associated with broader primaries could inadvertently encourage some aspirants to seek questionable sources of campaign funding, raising concerns about the influence of money in Ghana’s internal party democracy.

The Supreme Court’s ruling, delivered on Wednesday, July 29, declared the delegate system used by political parties in selecting parliamentary and presidential candidates unconstitutional. Political parties have been given one year to design and implement a more inclusive voting framework that complies with the Constitution.

The judgment is expected to reshape internal party elections ahead of future national polls, while sparking a wider debate over the balance between constitutional rights, political inclusiveness and equitable representation for Ghana’s diverse communities.