EC Reopens Nominations in Under-Subscribed Election Areas — Boosting Local Participation

The Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) has reopened the nomination process for several Electoral Areas and Units across the country where no candidates filed ahead of the upcoming district-level elections. The move follows Regulation 12 of the District Level Elections Regulations, 2015 (C.I. 89). The filing window for new aspirants runs from *Monday, 3 November to Thursday, 13 November 2025. Completed forms must be submitted between *Monday, 10 November and Thursday, 13 November, during the hours of 9:00 am-12:00 pm and 2:00 pm-5:00 pm, at the Returning Officer’s office for the relevant area.

This development is significant for local democracy in Ghana because it ensures that every electoral unit has representation. Areas with no candidates would otherwise go unrepresented at the district or unit level, undermining local governance and the decentralisation effort. By reopening nominations, the EC seeks to fill those gaps and bolster citizen participation in decision-making structures closest to the grassroots. On a broader African scale, this highlights a recurring challenge: ensuring inclusive local elections and strengthening governance at the lowest tiers.

Key Details on the Election

• Nomination forms may be obtained free of charge either from the EC’s District Offices or downloaded from the EC’s official website.
• Forms must be submitted in *quadruplicate, either by the candidate, or by their proposer or seconder, and must include *two recent bust-sized photographs on a red background.
• For Electoral Areas: each nomination form must bear the signatures or marks of a proposer and a seconder and be supported by 18 registered voters residing in the area.
• For Electoral Units: the form must be witnessed by a proposer and seconder and be supported by 8 registered voters from the unit.
• Enquiries about specific areas may be made at the Returning Officer’s office in each district.
• The announcement was issued by Samuel Tettey, Deputy Chairman of Operations at the Electoral Commission.

The District Level Elections Regulations (C.I. 89) were established to guide the conduct of local governance elections across Ghana. These rules support the country’s decentralisation framework — as outlined in the Local Governance Act, 2016 — which promotes citizen representation through District Assemblies and Unit Committees. Despite these legal frameworks, the occurrence of “no candidate” zones shows that more effort is needed to mobilise willing and eligible individuals to serve in local office.

• In previous district-level elections, the EC reported areas where run-offs were required for tied results. In January 2024, 61 Electoral Areas nationwide required tie-breaking elections under C.I. 89.
• The nomination window announced for November 2025 mirrors previous procedures used for by-elections in districts such as Nkoranza North and Nkoranza South earlier in the year.
• While the EC has not disclosed the total number of Electoral Areas affected in this latest reopening, similar actions in past election cycles have covered dozens of districts where low candidate turnout was observed.

For Ghana, reopening nominations sends a clear message: local governance cannot function effectively when representation gaps exist. The EC’s move offers another opportunity for citizens — particularly women, youth, and community leaders — to step forward and contribute to grassroots decision-making. For other African democracies, Ghana’s example demonstrates how electoral bodies can proactively address participation shortfalls and safeguard decentralised governance systems.

Ensuring that every local area has an elected representative strengthens accountability and improves local development outcomes. Communities that participate actively in local governance are more likely to see their needs reflected in district plans and resource allocations.

The EC’s decision to reopen nominations reflects a pragmatic approach to ensuring full participation in Ghana’s district-level elections. While the regulations provide the framework, the next step lies in citizen engagement — encouraging qualified individuals to take part in governance at the local level. The extent to which new candidates emerge will test the vibrancy of Ghana’s decentralised democracy and the effectiveness of civic awareness efforts in rural and urban communities alike.

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