A coalition of elected youth officers within the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has petitioned the party leadership to immediately grant them voting rights in all internal party elections, including the upcoming National Delegates Conference scheduled for 19 December 2026.
Operating under the banner “Other Youth Must Vote Movement,” the group issued a press release on 7 November 2026, demanding full executive recognition and inclusion in the final delegate list before the national conference.
”We are not outsiders. We are elected executives of this party,” said lead petitioner Abdul-Basit Garba Ango, the Other Youth Representative for Subin Constituency in the Ashanti Region, who issued the statement on behalf of representatives nationwide.
“We contested, we campaigned, and we were voted for by delegates. We come in peace, in loyalty, and in defence of the democratic principles of the NDC.”
The petitioners highlighted a disparity in their official status, pointing out that despite paying over GHS 1,000 for nomination forms—more than double the GHS 500 paid by the other eight elected constituency executives—they remain disenfranchised during key decision-making processes.
”We paid the highest price to serve, yet we are given the lowest recognition,” the statement declared, adding, “We are executives for work, for mobilisation, for sacrifice and for campaign, but we are told we are not executives for voting and for decision-making. That is tokenism, not democracy.”
The group expressed frustration that co-opted members, who are appointed without facing vetting or elections, possess full voting rights while elected youth representatives are excluded.
”The Co-opted Member paid nothing for forms, faced no vetting, faced no delegates, campaigned nowhere, and spent nothing,” the petitioners noted, stating, “Yet today, the Co-opted Member enjoys full executive recognition and full voting rights at National Congress, while the elected Other Youth Representative is told he is only an Other Youth and cannot vote.”
While acknowledging a decision by the National Executive Committee (NEC) to redesignate the position as Second Deputy Constituency Youth Organiser, the coalition argued that delaying formal implementation until after the December conference prevents them from voting on the ratification itself.
”Do not wait for Congress to ratify what justice already demands,” the group stated, adding, “To delay our recognition until after Congress is to deliberately disenfranchise us from the very Congress that will ratify our existence.”
To address these grievances, the petition calls on the NEC, the Functional Executive Committee (FEC), and the General Secretary to immediately amend the delegate list and grant Other Youth Representatives full voting rights across constituency, regional, and national elections.
Furthermore, the coalition demands their immediate implementation as Second Deputy Constituency Youth Organisers, complete integration into Constituency Executive Committees with full privileges, and formal amendments to the NDC Constitution and election guidelines to permanently secure their delegate status.
”The youth are not decorations. The youth are not errand boys. The youth are the engine and the future of the NDC,” the statement said, stressing, “Recognise us now. Include us now. Let us vote.”
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