The General Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, has announced that Ministers of State, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), as well as Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and their deputies of state institutions, will not be permitted to contest the party’s upcoming internal elections unless they resign from their positions.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday to outline the party’s roadmap towards the 2028 general elections, Mr Kwetey said the directive is intended to ensure fairness and integrity in the internal electoral process.

According to him, any official within these categories who intends to contest must vacate their position before filing to participate in the party’s elections.

“Pursuant to Article 54 of the party’s constitution, the National Executive Committee has approved the following general provisions under Section H of the guidelines for the elections,” he said.

“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. “The affected offices under paragraph one include, but are not limited to, ministers and deputy ministers; chief executive officers, managing directors and their deputies or analogous officers; and metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives,” he explained.

“These provisions are firm, constitutional, and we will enforce them without exception. So please don’t even bother to come and see whether you can plead to be exempted, because there is no plea in this matter,” the General Secretary emphasised.

The announcement forms part of broad measures by the NDC to reorganise its structures and strengthen internal democracy as it prepares for the next general elections.

Meanwhile, “Chairpersons or members of boards or persons in an analogous position are exempt from this restriction. That is because they are not full-time employees. Those who are full-time employees are affected,” he noted.