NDC Opens Nominations for 2026 Constituency Executive Elections on September 15

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) will open nominations for its 2026 Constituency Executive Elections on Tuesday, September 15, formally moving the party's internal electoral process into a new phase.

The NDC National Secretariat announced the opening in a press release dated September 10, urging members who intend to contest the various constituency executive positions to take advantage of the nomination period and comply with the requirements governing the process.

The announcement also officially opens the campaign window for aspirants contesting the party's internal elections at the constituency, regional and national levels.

NDC sets online payment requirement

For prospective aspirants, one of the key requirements concerns the payment of nomination fees.

The National Secretariat says all payments for the picking and filing of nominations must be made strictly through the party's online portal, with mobile money payments accepted across all networks.

The party has also placed membership requirements on aspirants and those supporting their nominations.

Aspirants, proposers, seconders and endorsers must be members in good standing of the NDC and must have fully paid their membership dues for the last four years.

Members with outstanding dues arrears have been directed to settle them through the party's approved channels.

The requirement means that prospective candidates and members participating in the nomination process will need to ensure that their membership records and dues obligations are in order before proceeding.

The NDC's official platform also provides a dues-payment option through 92025#.

Campaigning officially begins

The National Secretariat has also declared campaign activities open for aspirants contesting the 2026 internal elections.

The campaign window covers the constituency, regional and national levels, subject to the party's rules, regulations and directives governing the electoral process.

Regional officers, constituency officers and ward coordinators have been directed to allow campaign activities by aspirants within their respective jurisdictions.

The move gives prospective candidates the opportunity to begin openly engaging party members as they seek support ahead of the various internal contests.

For constituency politics in particular, the campaign period could bring increased activity as aspirants begin making their intentions known and building support within their respective party structures.

Parliamentary contests excluded from campaign window

The National Secretariat has, however, made an important distinction between the internal executive elections and parliamentary ambitions.

The current campaign window does not apply to persons pursuing or intending to pursue parliamentary ambitions.

The restriction covers sitting Members of Parliament as well as persons currently considering or expressing an intention to contest parliamentary elections.

Such individuals are not permitted to engage in parliamentary campaign activities under the campaign window announced for the internal executive elections.

The Secretariat says any breach of the directive will be treated seriously and dealt with in accordance with the party's rules and regulations.

Attention shifts to grassroots leadership

The opening of nominations puts constituency leadership firmly in focus.

While presidential and parliamentary contests usually attract the greatest public attention, constituency executives are an important part of a political party's grassroots machinery.

They help organise members, coordinate party activities and maintain the party's presence within local communities.

The internal contests therefore have implications beyond the individual positions being contested, particularly because the people who emerge will form part of the structures through which the party operates at the constituency level.

In areas such as the Savannah Region, where local political organisation and community engagement remain important parts of grassroots politics, the constituency contests could attract considerable attention as aspirants begin positioning themselves.

Recent community-level engagements in Central Gonja have also highlighted the importance of youth participation and local development. Gonja Pulse recently reported on an engagement between the Central Gonja Police Command and a youth representative focused on youth empowerment and community development. Central Gonja Police, Youth MP Strengthen Collaboration on Youth Empowerment

Party calls for peaceful internal elections

The NDC National Secretariat has urged constituencies, aspirants and members to conduct themselves with discipline, decorum and respect for the party's democratic values throughout the electoral process.

It is also counting on the cooperation of party structures and members to ensure that the process is transparent, peaceful and orderly.

With nominations opening on September 15, prospective aspirants now have the opportunity to formally enter the race for the various constituency executive positions.

The coming weeks will likely provide a clearer picture of the level of competition across constituencies as candidates complete the nomination process and begin engaging party members.

For the NDC, the immediate focus is now on ensuring that the nomination and campaign stages proceed within the rules set out for the 2026 internal elections.

Read the Press Release below:

Gonja Pulse will continue to follow developments surrounding the NDC's internal elections, with particular attention to constituency-level activity and developments across the Savannah Region.