The Chief Crusader of Crusaders Against Corruption, Emmanuel Wilson, has argued that the Supreme Court’s decision striking down Ghana’s political parties’ delegate system could mark the beginning of the end of what he describes as the disproportionate influence delegates wield over the country’s political leadership.
Speaking on Bullet TV’s Morning Target on Thursday July 30, 2026, Wilson said the delegate system has, over the years, shifted political accountability away from ordinary party supporters and citizens, forcing politicians to focus almost exclusively on satisfying delegates in order to secure party nominations.
According to him, this has weakened democratic governance and contributed to poor development outcomes in many constituencies.
Wilson explained that because delegates determine who becomes parliamentary candidates and flag bearers, many politicians invest more resources in winning the favour of a few delegates than serving the broader electorate.
“All I need is to make sure I win the primaries. Who will make sure I win the primaries? It’s the delegates,” he said, arguing that once candidates secure party nominations in political strongholds, victory in the general election often becomes almost guaranteed.
He said the situation has encouraged elected officials to neglect the needs of ordinary citizens while maintaining close financial relationships with delegates.
According to Wilson, some politicians allegedly place delegates on regular allowances or provide them with continuous incentives simply to secure their support during future primaries.
“The delegates are the same people who vote for me. They vote for me and I end up winning. I’m taking the entire constituency for granted,” he noted.
Wilson argued that the consequences are evident in declining voter participation, particularly in constituencies regarded as political strongholds.
He explained that while parties may continue winning those seats comfortably, voter turnout has gradually reduced because many citizens feel disconnected from elected leaders who only become visible during election periods.
According to him, ordinary voters increasingly believe their concerns are ignored because politicians concentrate their efforts on delegates rather than the wider electorate.
He attributed this trend to the incentives created by the delegate system, saying it has distorted the relationship between elected representatives and the people they serve.
Wilson acknowledged that the delegate system was introduced with noble intentions, including reducing the cost of internal elections and recognising committed party volunteers with the privilege of choosing party leaders.
However, he said those privileges gradually evolved into opportunities for delegates to demand personal benefits from aspirants.
He explained that delegates eventually realised the influence they possessed and began leveraging it for financial gain, forcing aspirants to compete through cash payments and gifts rather than ideas and competence.
The anti-corruption advocate maintained that the Supreme Court’s ruling offers political parties an opportunity to redesign their internal electoral processes in a way that restores power to ordinary members and reduces the excessive influence of money in politics.
He also warned that unless broader reforms are undertaken to curb vote buying and political patronage, politicians and delegates alike will continue to exploit loopholes in the system at the expense of democratic accountability.
CREDIT: MAVIS FANTEVI