Ishaq Ibrahim, a member of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Legal Directorate, has questioned the legal grounds of a recent lawsuit challenging internal party voting arrangements, arguing that democratic principles should not be conflated with constitutional obligations.
The suit, filed by prominent Ghanaians including Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, and Dr. Christine Amoako-Nuamah, targets the NPP, NDC, CPP, the Electoral Commission (EC), and the Attorney General.
It challenges the constitutionality of delegate-based electoral college systems and constituency conference mechanisms for selecting presidential and parliamentary candidates, citing alleged violations of Article 55(5) of the 1992 Constitution.
Speaking on GHToday with Lily Mohammed on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, Ibrahim questioned whether the issue should be addressed by the courts.
“I asked myself whether this is really something to be addressed by a court,” he said, noting that while democratic ideals encourage broad participation, Ghana’s Constitution does not explicitly mandate that all party members must vote in internal elections.
He added that the lawsuit seems to suggest multiple parties are operating outside democratic norms, yet fails to point to a specific constitutional provision that has been breached.
“Principles are not mandatory. They are goals societies work toward progressively,” Ibrahim emphasized, underscoring the aspirational nature of democracy.
Referencing his long-standing involvement in the NPP since 1988, including as a former parliamentary aspirant, he admitted that he himself does not vote in certain party processes.
Ibrahim also questioned the timing and motives behind the lawsuit, highlighting the involvement of prominent party figures.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh / Barbara Yeboah
