The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has cleared 98 aspirants and disqualified 23 ahead of its national executive elections on Saturday, December 19, 2026, Citi Newsroom and MyJoyOnline report.
The spokesperson for the party's elections committee, Dr Peter Boamah Otokunor, said 122 people filed nominations, but one did not appear for vetting, leaving 121 who went through the process.
"122 individuals filed, and one was absent for the vetting, so it means that 121 undertook the vetting. Out of that, we had 23 disqualified," he said, according to Citi Newsroom.
Why aspirants were disqualified
Otokunor said almost all of the disqualifications were based on a clause in the party's constitution that sets prerequisites for anyone contesting a national executive position, Citi Newsroom and MyJoyOnline reported. The committee also relied on the party's electoral guidelines. The names of all 23 have not been published.
Breakdown by position
According to MyJoyOnline, 138 people picked up nomination forms. The National Executive Committee race had 16 disqualifications, with 32 aspirants cleared. Six of the seven Deputy General Secretary aspirants were approved, while two aspirants each were disqualified from the Deputy National Women's Organiser and National Youth Organiser races.
All four National Chairman aspirants and 17 National Vice Chairman aspirants were cleared, MyJoyOnline reported.
Appeals and campaigning
Aspirants unhappy with the outcome have two days to appeal to a committee set up to review complaints, MyJoyOnline reported. The committee urged cleared candidates to campaign peacefully, without insults or personal attacks.
The elections will take place at the party's 9th National Delegates Congress, part of its reorganisation ahead of the 2028 general elections, Citi Newsroom reported.
Earlier disputes
The vetting follows the disqualification of Steven Nhyira Odarteifio and Najib Yahaya from the National Youth Organiser race, which Citi Newsroom and 3News reported on Wednesday. General Secretary aspirant Stephen Donkor has separately sued the party over his exclusion from the General Secretary race, Citi Newsroom reported; the party's Director of Elections and IT, Mahdi Gibril, has said the party did not block him.