The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is holding its Regional Executive elections across all 16 regions today, Saturday, November 14, in what party officials describe as the penultimate stage of its nationwide reorganisation ahead of the 2028 general election.
Voting is scheduled to run from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with the Electoral Commission (EC) conducting the polls at designated centres in each region. National party officers have been deployed to supervise proceedings, while security is being managed by the Ghana Police Service-led National Election Security Taskforce.
The party says all logistics have been delivered. Speaking ahead of the polls, Deputy Director of Elections and IT, Rashid Tanko Computer, said on Wednesday: “In terms of logistics, everything has been sent to the region. The Electoral Commission is handling the elections.”
Strict rules: No proxy voting
In a directive issued on November 5 by General Secretary Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, the party barred proxy voting and insisted that every delegate must be physically present to vote.
“Proxy is not allowed, so you need to be there yourself,” Mr Computer reiterated, adding that the decision was taken by the party’s Functional Executive Committee (FEC).
Delegates are required to present either a valid NDC membership card, an official accreditation document, or an embossed photograph in the approved voters’ register for verification. Only accredited delegates are allowed onto conference grounds.
Personal security details accompanying government officials and other individuals have also been barred from designated voting areas, with the Ghana Police Service given sole responsibility for security at all centres.
Key regional contests to watch
Greater Accra: More than 1,200 delegates are voting over two days. The Youth and Women’s elections were held on Friday, November 13, at the Dodowa AstroTurf, while the main conference is today at the Madina AstroTurf.
A total of 77 candidates are contesting 15 executive positions, including Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Organiser, Treasurer, Women’s Organiser, Communications Officer, Youth Organiser and Zongo Caucus representative.
The chairmanship race has four candidates: incumbent Emmanuel Nii Ashie-Moore, Michael Tetteh Kwetey, Ibrahim Jajah, and Benjamin Danso.
Regional Secretary Theophilus Tetteh Chai has assured aspirants of a peaceful process, saying the decision to hand the polls to the EC was intended to strengthen credibility and integrity.
Ashanti: The chairmanship is a two-horse race between incumbent Augustus Nana Kwasi Andrews, seeking a third term, and Regional Organiser Isham Alhassan Yaw Bonsu.
Mr Andrews is campaigning on continuity, pointing to the NDC’s performance in 2024 when it increased its parliamentary seats in the region from four in 2020 to seven and secured more than 30 per cent of the presidential vote.
A total of 65 aspirants were cleared to contest in the region. The Youth and Women’s conferences were held on Friday at the Ahensan Youth Centre in Kumasi, with the main election today at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
Western: Incumbent Chairman Nana Kojo Toku is seeking re-election against his First Vice-Chairman, Kwame Bolu, and three-time former MP, George Arthur.
Under Mr Toku, the NDC won 15 out of 17 parliamentary seats in the Western Region in 2024, a record his campaign says justifies another term.
Oti: 337 delegates are voting at Bueman Senior High School (BUSEC) in Jasikan, with 46 aspirants contesting 15 positions.
Central: The Functional Executive Committee selected Dunkwa-on-Offin to host the Central Regional elections, with the Youth and Women’s elections held at the same venue.
Part of a bigger reorganisation
The regional polls follow branch elections across more than 40,900 polling stations and constituency elections held on October 24-25, 2026, in 276 constituencies.
According to Dr Peter Boamah Otokunor, spokesperson for the NDC Elections Committee, the party has so far elected more than 380,000 executives from branch level through to constituency level.
He said the regional elections would mark the penultimate stage before the National Delegates Congress.
The party will hold its National Youth and Women Conference on December 12, followed by its National Congress on December 19, 2026, where national executives will be elected by more than 9,000 delegates.
Party leaders say the full exercise is aimed at rebuilding structures and consolidating gains to retain power in 2028.
