Delegates at the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) National Delegates Conference in Kumasi have approved all 14 proposed amendments to the party’s constitution, despite an earlier appeal by Acting National Chairman Joseph Danquah Smith to postpone the exercise. The amendments were considered at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium as the first item on the party’s congress agenda, ahead of the election of new national officers.
Mr Smith had called for the constitutional review to be deferred to the party’s next conference, citing time constraints and concerns that delegates might not have sufficient time to properly consider the proposals while also taking part in the national executive elections. The party, however, proceeded with the exercise, with delegates approving all 14 motions submitted by the Constitution Amendment Committee.
Among the key amendments approved is a change to the designation of the party’s leader. At the NPP’s conference on January 31, 2026, the party introduced a constitutional provision stating that the National Chairman would serve as the leader of the party at all material times.
The approved amendment reverses that position and designates the party’s flagbearer as the leader.
Another amendment changes the way Vice Chairpersons are elected.
Under the current arrangement, all candidates contest the position of National First Vice Chairman, with the first, second and third Vice Chairpersons determined according to the order of votes received.
Under the new system, candidates will declare and contest specific Vice Chairperson positions.
Delegates also approved a proposal for the appointment of three additional Vice Chairpersons who will not be elected.
Other amendments include the creation of Deputy Communications Officer positions and the elevation of the IT Officer to an executive position.
Chairman of the NPP Constitution Amendment Committee, Frank Davies, said the changes were necessary to address gaps in the party’s organisational structure ahead of the 2028 general elections.
“These limited constitutional amendments were necessitated by some acts of omission and commission, which heralded the last amendment we had in 2025, so this is to cure the grey areas that we overlooked,” he said.
Mr Davies said approving the amendments was important because of their implications for the party’s organisational structure.
“It is imperative that these amendments are carried through because of the ramifications they have for our party’s organisational structure,” he said.
The NPP’s National Delegates Conference is being held in two main stages: consideration of constitutional amendments and the election of new national officers.
A total of 7,163 delegates from all 16 regions are participating in the conference, with voting taking place across 31 polling stations for nine national executive positions.
The Electoral Commission is supervising the elections and verifying delegates.
Following the approval of the constitutional amendments, delegates have proceeded to vote in the national executive elections, with results expected later today.
