The governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) has directed all government appointees interested in contesting for executive positions at the constituency, regional, or national level to resign from their public roles at least six months before the party’s internal elections.
The directive, announced on Thursday, January 29, 2026, affects Ministers and Deputy Ministers, Chief Executive Officers and their deputies, Managing Directors and deputies, officers in analogous positions, as well as Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).
Chairpersons and members of boards are explicitly excluded from the resignation requirement.
General Secretary of the NDC, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, who addressed the media in Accra, explained that the measure forms part of the party’s ongoing reorganisation efforts aimed at promoting fairness, reducing greed, and ensuring equal opportunities for all deserving members.
“Those intending to contest at the 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 the national level shall resign by June 2026,” Mr Kwetey stated.
“It is an issue of reducing the level of greed. If you want to work for the Party, you leave your position in government. You can’t have one leg here, and another there,” he added.
The General Secretary stressed that the directive would be enforced strictly and without exception.
The NDC emphasised that its internal reorganisation process is guided by principles of discipline, integrity, fairness, and collective responsibility.
“I therefore call on all party officials from the branch to the national level to apply themselves diligently, act transparently and uphold the values of the National Democratic Congress (NDC),” Mr Kwetey urged.
The announcement comes as the party rolls out detailed guidelines and timetables for its internal elections across all levels, culminating in the National Delegates Conference scheduled for December 19, 2026, where new national executives will be elected.