Making the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential candidate the leader of the party, instead of the national chairman, could help unify the party and strengthen its preparations for the 2028 elections, political analyst Dr Samuel Afriyie has said. Dr Afriyie, a senior lecturer at Kumasi Technical University (KsTU), said the proposed constitutional amendment could help address tensions that have occasionally arisen between the party’s presidential candidate and its national leadership.
He said giving the presidential candidate the additional role of party leader could provide greater cohesion within the NPP and contribute to efforts to rebuild public confidence ahead of future elections. The proposal forms part of a number of constitutional amendments expected to be considered at the NPP’s national conference in Kumasi on Saturday, October 3, where delegates will also elect national executives.
Speaking to Asaase News, Dr Afriyie said the proposed change appeared to be an attempt to address differences in direction that could emerge between the party and its presidential candidate. “I think maybe they realised that it would be helpful to them. Because what I’ve realised with the NPP is that the NPP has an issue about the presidential candidate having a different direction and the party also having a direction,” he said.
However, he said the party would need to clearly define the responsibilities of the presidential candidate as party leader, particularly when the NPP is in opposition. “The party must make it clear whether the presidential candidate will remain the leader of the party while in opposition,” he said.
Dr Afriyie also said the proposed constitutional arrangement should clearly establish the relationship between the party leader and the presidency if the candidate wins a general election. He said this would help prevent potential conflicts between party responsibilities and the duties of government.
He further noted that making the presidential candidate the party leader could place significant financial and organisational responsibilities on one individual, requiring the NPP to consider new strategies for financing and managing its activities. Other proposed constitutional amendments include restoring the President to the National Steering Committee and creating additional vice-chairperson positions at the national, regional and constituency levels.
The reforms also propose the creation of deputy regional and constituency communication officer positions, while making the first, second and third vice-chairperson positions separate elective offices. Under the proposed changes, all card-bearing members would also be eligible to vote as delegates in presidential and parliamentary primaries.
The amendments further seek to add information technology officers to the party’s regional and constituency executive structures. Dr Afriyie urged the NPP to use the national conference as an opportunity to strengthen unity within the party and sharpen its focus on rebuilding public confidence.
He said referrals of former government appointees to institutions including the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) had affected perceptions of the party. “They also have to work on the issues arising from the current NDC government that are making the party look bad. That is something they need to address,” he said.
“You know, this is part of the NDC’s strategy, so the NPP also needs to find a way of responding to it. If all your appointees are being referred to the EOCO, the OSP, and other investigative bodies, it creates an impression that your people are also corrupt.”
“The ordinary Ghanaian may begin to see the party in that way. So, they have to reposition themselves properly and restore public confidence, so that Ghanaians can trust them and believe in what they intend to offer when they come back to power,” he added. Afriyie also urged NPP delegates to elect leaders with the experience and capacity to strengthen the party and compete effectively in future elections. The proposed constitutional amendments will be considered alongside the election of new national executives at Saturday’s conference.
