NDC upholds disqualification of digital centres chief from La Dadekotopon race

Ghana's National Democratic Congress (NDC) has formally upheld its decision to disqualify Dzifa Gunu, Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Digital Centres Limited, from running for the La Dadekotopon Constituency Secretary position. The party's regional elections committee notified Gunu of the decision following a formal vetting process that revealed he had not met key eligibility criteria.

NDC Acting Director of Elections and IT Mahdi Gibril confirmed the disqualification on October 5, explaining that the action stemmed directly from party guidelines governing candidate eligibility. According to Gibril, a petition filed during the vetting process alleged that Gunu had not resigned from his position at Ghana Digital Centres Limited before submitting his nomination form—a critical requirement under NDC rules.

The six-month resignation rule

The NDC's party guidelines require candidates holding official positions to resign at least six months before filing their nomination papers. This rule is designed to ensure candidates can dedicate themselves fully to party activities and constituency representation without conflicts of interest from other roles.

During the vetting process, Gunu acknowledged that his appointment to the digital centres role had been made by the appointing authority and that he had submitted a resignation letter. However, when the vetting committee requested documentary evidence of his resignation, Gunu reportedly did not provide the necessary documentation. Instead, he wrote seeking clarification on his status, which was insufficient to meet the party's requirements.

Gibril noted that while the party maintains strict eligibility standards, there are remedies available. "Those who have been disqualified have the opportunity to appeal," he said, adding that this pathway allows candidates to challenge decisions they believe are unfair or based on misunderstandings.

Why it matters for Ghana

The incident highlights how Ghana's major political parties enforce internal governance structures ahead of general elections. The NDC's enforcement of its six-month resignation rule demonstrates commitment to preventing potential conflicts of interest at the constituency level—an important safeguard for transparent party administration. Such internal vetting processes help maintain party discipline and ensure that candidates can focus entirely on representing party interests and constituents.

For Gunu specifically, the party has provided a clear path forward: he has already filed an appeal seeking reversal of the disqualification. The appeal process will allow him to present additional evidence or clarification regarding his resignation status from Ghana Digital Centres Limited.

Timeline for nominations continues

Meanwhile, the NDC's nomination process for constituency elections continues on schedule. The online portal for purchasing nomination forms for the constituency elections opened on Tuesday, October 6, and remains accessible until Thursday, October 8. This timeline applies to all prospective candidates across the party's various constituency positions, giving interested candidates a three-day window to begin their formal candidacy procedures.

The La Dadekotopon Constituency election is one of many internal party contests the NDC will conduct as it prepares for broader electoral activities. These constituency-level positions are significant because they form the backbone of party organisation at the grassroots level and play crucial roles in mobilising voters and managing party affairs in local areas.