The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has directed all persons who intend to contest for party positions and who currently hold government-appointed offices to resign at least six months before filing their nomination forms.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, the General Secretary, Mr Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, said the decision was taken by the National Executive Committee in line with the party’s constitution and newly approved election guidelines.

“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.

He explained that the first and most important provision affects persons holding offices to which they were appointed by the President or government.

“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,” Mr Kwatey stated.

The General Secretary said that not all office holders are affected by the directive. He explained that chairpersons or members of boards, as well as persons in similar positions, are exempt.

“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.”

Mr Kwatey went on to list the categories of office holders who fall under the directive.

“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.

He said the official guidelines for the party’s elections have been approved and made public. “Now the official guidelines for the elections will, from today, be made public, so all of you will be able to have access to them,” he announced.

Mr Kwatey outlined specific deadlines for resignations based on the level at which aspirants intend to contest.

“Those intending to contest at a constituency level shall resign by April 2026. Those intending to contest at the regional level shall resign by May 2026. And those intending to contest at a national level shall resign by June 2026,” he said.

He said that the decision is final and will be enforced without exception.

“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.”