‘Abrokyire’ Delegates Fight For Proxy Votes

Different categories of delegates of the New Patriotic Party who per the Party’s constitution have voting rights for the January 2026 presidential primary but are currently outside the country have kicked against the attempt by the Party to deny them of their rights to vote by proxy.

Their leadership, in separate but related petitions to the Party leadership argue that the cost of air fare and other travelling costs from their various destinations mainly in the United Kingdom, Europe, The United States, the Middle East and other continents are unbearable and makes no sense because there are other efficient and equally credible means of casting their votes.

In one of such petitions signed by 30 Chairpersons of various external branches, they argued that the current voting arrangement under which external branches are required to send delegates to Ghana to take part in national internal elections has created significant logistical and financial challenges. The cost of international travel, accommodation, and related expenses place a heavy financial burden not only on the delegates themselves but also on the national party, which must allocate substantial resources to support this arrangement.

“As it currently stands, each of the thirty (30) external branches of the New Patriotic Party is expected to send an average of forty (40) delegates to Ghana to participate in the party’s primaries. This translates to more than one thousand delegates travelling from across the globe, including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa to cast their votes. The estimated average cost of airfare and accommodation per delegate is approximately USD 3,000, bringing the total expenditure to over USD 3.6 million…

“… In many instances, this financial pressure has led to low turnout from most branches in past elections. Delegates who are unable to attend in person must resort to proxy voting, whereby they appoint trusted representatives to vote on their behalf, a practice that, however, comes with its own challenges. Worse still, some aspirants have had to step in to support delegates by covering travel expenses, a practice that skews the fairness of the process and places less affluent aspirants at a disadvantage in the electoral process. Additionally, the national party bears the responsibility of hosting and sometimes accommodating delegates from external branches, further stretching the National Party’s already limited resources. The situation clearly calls for an innovative, cost-effective, and inclusive alternative”, the petition noted.

The petition, addressed to the National Chairman, through the General Secretary, proposed two possible solutions to resolve the challenge.

“Electronic Voting: The introduction of a secure electronic voting system would represent a natural extension of the NPP’s digitalization agenda. As the party that has led Ghana’s digital transformation, evidenced by initiatives such as the Ghana Card, mobile interoperability, and e-governance platforms, it is both timely and appropriate for the NPP to adopt technology-driven electoral practices within its internal democratic processes.

“Importantly, this proposal is not without precedent. The NPP-USA Branch has successfully utilized an electronic voting system for many years, providing a proven and reliable model that has enhanced participation, minimized logistical hurdles, and maintained electoral integrity. Electronic voting offers a credible, efficient, and inclusive alternative that would allow eligible delegates in external branches to cast their ballots remotely using verified digital authentication systems. With proper encryption, identity verification, and oversight by the Electoral Commission, this method would ensure both accessibility and integrity. It would also significantly reduce travel costs, logistical burdens, and potential disenfranchisement of delegates unable to afford or secure travel to Ghana. By embracing electronic voting, the NPP would reinforce its identity as a modern, forward looking party committed to efficiency, transparency, and innovation. Most importantly, this is consistent with the NPP’s longstanding commitment to innovation and its reputation as the political party that has championed digitalization in Ghana’s governance and public administration.

“Voting at Continental or Branch Level: We further propose a decentralized voting model in which delegates cast their votes at the continental or regional level, under the supervision of appointed party officials and Electoral Commission representatives. This arrangement would maintain transparency and procedural integrity while easing the burden on delegates. For instance, delegates in Europe could assemble in Finland, while those in North America could meet in either the United States or Canada. Alternatively, delegates could vote within their own branch jurisdictions under authorized supervision, with securely transmitted results sent directly to the national headquarters or the Electoral Commission in Ghana. Under this arrangement, delegates who choose to travel to Ghana could still cast their ballots at a designated polling centre.

“These proposed models present multiple advantages. First, it significantly reduces costs for both delegates and the national party. Second, it eliminates the logistical challenges associated with mass travel and accommodation. Third, it levels the playing field for all candidates by reducing the influence of financial muscle. Fourth, it promotes broader inclusion by enabling participation from delegates who would otherwise be excluded due to financial constraints”, the petition noted.