Delegates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have approved all 14 proposed constitutional amendments presented at the party’s National Delegates Conference in Kumasi.
The amendments were passed at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Saturday, October 3, 2026, despite an earlier request by Acting National Chairman Joseph Danquah Smith for the exercise to be deferred to a subsequent conference.
Mr Smith had argued that the packed programme, which included the election of new national officers, could leave delegates with insufficient time to properly examine the proposed changes.
The party nevertheless proceeded with the constitutional review, with delegates approving all 14 motions submitted by the Constitution Amendment Committee.
Among the major changes is a reversal of the provision governing who serves as the leader of the NPP.
The amendment restores the party’s flagbearer as its leader, replacing a provision introduced at the NPP’s January 31, 2026 conference that designated the National Chairman as the party’s leader at all times.
The change is expected to have implications for the party’s leadership structure and the relationship between the national executive and the presidential candidate as the NPP prepares for the 2028 general election.
Delegates also approved a new system for electing the party’s Vice Chairpersons.
Under the previous arrangement, candidates contested the position of National First Vice Chairman, with the candidates receiving the first, second and third highest votes becoming the First, Second and Third Vice Chairpersons respectively.
The approved amendment introduces separate contests for the respective Vice Chairperson positions. Candidates will therefore indicate the specific position they are seeking before contesting.
The new provisions also make room for three additional Vice Chairpersons to be appointed rather than elected.
Other amendments approved by delegates provide for the creation of Deputy Communications Officer positions within the party.
The reforms also elevate the position of IT Officer to an executive-level position, formally recognising the importance of technology and digital operations within the party’s organisational structure.
Chairman of the NPP Constitution Amendment Committee, Frank Davies, said the amendments are intended to address gaps identified in the party’s previous constitutional changes.
According to him, the latest review is necessary to correct areas that had been overlooked during the 2025 amendment process.
He said the changes are particularly important because of their potential impact on the party’s organisational arrangements.
The NPP’s National Delegates Conference is being held in two major phases, beginning with consideration of the constitutional amendments before the election of new national officers.
A total of 7,163 delegates drawn from all 16 regions are participating in the conference.
The national executive elections are being conducted across 31 polling stations for nine positions, with the Electoral Commission supervising the process and undertaking delegate verification.
By 1960news.com
