Delegates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have endorsed a motion that seeks to require party executives who accept public appointments to step down from party roles.
This motion, the tenth among 56 others, seeks to amend articles 7(10) & 9(7) of the constitution of the party.
During the National Delegates Conference held at the University of Ghana Stadium on July 19, the motion to limit the age range for a youth in the party to 35 instead of 40 was rejected. Also, the motion to take election supervision rights from constituency officers to regional leaders, thus allowing them to appoint neutral supervisors instead, got declined.
The proposals presented by the National Council of Elders focus on several proposed amendments to the party’s constitution aimed at addressing the root causes of its 2024 electoral defeat.
The NPP’s defeat in the December 2024 polls saw its flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, lose to former president John Dramani Mahama of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). The NDC secured 56.55% of the popular vote and a commanding 184 out of 276 parliamentary seats, marking the NPP’s most significant loss in the Fourth Republic and ending their two terms in office.
This heavy defeat has prompted widespread calls for introspection and fundamental reforms within the party as it looks towards the 2028 elections.
Below is the full list of motions:
Article 1
Amend article 1 of the Constitution to include the Party’s Motto, Symbol and Colours.
[The absence of the Party’s Motto, Symbol and Colours in the Constitution is an obvious omission and ought to be rectified. The Party’s Motto, Symbol and Colours must find expression in the Party’s Constitution.]
Article 3(7)
Amend article 3(7)of the Constitution to give the power to recommend suspension of a Member or an office holder pending disciplinary action against him to the appropriate Disciplinary Committee rather than the Executive Committee.
[The amendment is necessary to ensure justified suspension of party executives (elected and appointed) by Executive Committees, only upon recommendation by the Disciplinary Committee, pending disciplinary proceedings against such Officers. It is the Disciplinary Committee that shall recommend suspension, having regard to its preliminary findings.]
Article 4(3)(7)
Amend article 4(3)(7) of the Constitution to allow for a complaint against any Constituency or Regional Officer, whether elected or appointed, to be filed at; (i) in the case of the Constituency Officer, the Regional Executive Committee and (ii) in the case of the Regional Officer, the National Executive Committee.
[The amendment seeks to achieve fair and equal treatment or handling of disciplinary matters involving ‘elected officers’ and ‘appointed officers’ who are at the same level of the Party by providing that they should be dealt with by the same Disciplinary Committee.]
Article 5(6)
Amend article 5(6) of the Constitution to adopt the Electoral Commission of Ghana’s demarcation/cluster of Electoral Areas.
[The EC’s Electoral Area systems are pre-determined, bereft of controversies and involve more polling stations than the party’s demarcations of Electoral Area. The current provision in the Party’s constitution is that where polling stations under an Electoral Area exceed ten(10), an additional Electoral Area may be created. This lack of certainty and exactitude has triggered misunderstandings in the creation of some Electoral Areas. The adoption of the EC’s Electoral Area system cures any such misunderstanding or perceived mischief.]
Article 6 – new provision
Amend article 6 of the Constitution to provide for an Electoral Area Executive Committee structure made up of five (5) members who shall all be elected, comprising the Electoral Area Chairperson, Secretary, Organiser, Communications Officer and Electoral Affairs Officer.
[The current system requires limited expansion to allow for increased participation and support in the management of the electoral areas. A 5-member Committee enhances operational capacity and ensures a more inclusive and structured approach to supervising polling station activities.]
Article 6(1)
Amend article 6(1) of the Constitution to increase the Polling Station Executives from five (5) to seven (7), who are all to be elected, comprising the Chairperson, Secretary, Organiser, Women’s Organiser, Youth Organiser, Communications Officer and Electoral Affairs Officer.
[The Committee recommends a one-man one-vote (OMOV) system as a long-term electoral framework for the Party. In the absence of the foundational structures for the OMOV electoral system, the proposed limited expansion (representing 40% rise) at the polling station level is more realistic and manageable. It has the effect of increasing the electoral college considerably while the Party works on the recommended OMOV system.]
Articles 6(1); 7(2); 9(1); 10(7)(3)
Amend article 6(1), 7(2), 9(1) & 10(7)(3) of the Constitution to split/decouple the position of Research and Electoral Affairs Officer at the Constituency, Regional and National levels of the Party.
[The amendment brings the needed focus and attention to each of the two responsibilities. Also, it is not every researcher who understands electoral matters and vice versa. Therefore, separating the positions and appointing people with the requisite expertise to occupy the respective positions will inure to the Party’s benefit.]
Article 7(2)
Amend article 7(2) of the Constitution to include the Constituency Research Officer, Electoral Affairs Officer and PWD Coordinator on the Constituency Executive Committee.
[This represents a limited expansion of the Constituency Executive Committee and seeks to promote inclusivity and broader participation in Party activities at the Constituency level.]
Articles 7(5); 9(2); 10(7)(3)
Amend articles 7(5), 9(2) & 10(7)(3) of the Constitution to make Communication Officers at all levels of the Party elected from the Polling Station, Electoral Area, Constituency, Regional and at the National level. At the National level, the Communication Officer shall be the Director of Communications.
[The appointment of Communication Officers has, in many instances, been fraught with a lot of challenges occasioned by perceptions of favouritism and lack of candour. Making the positions elective will afford the Party delegates to select persons they think can best communicate for the Party. For the avoidance of doubt, the Deputy Directors of Communications shall remain appointed.]
Articles 7(10); 9(7)
Amend articles 7(10) & 9(7) of the Constitution to prevent Party Officers who get appointed into government from continuing to hold their offices.
[Party officers who are appointed into government should not be allowed to hold dual positions. So long as they have accepted the appointment to serve in government, they should focus on their mandate in government and give opportunity for other competent Party members to occupy their positions in the Party. It is also in line with the provisions in clause 10 of article 7 & clause 7 of article 9, which are intended to ensure that government appointees do not hold Constituency, Regional and National Executive offices.]
Articles 7(26); 9(24)
Amend articles 7(26) & 9(24) of the Constitution to provide that any vacancy that may occur for whatever reason in the case of the Constituency Secretary and Regional Secretary shall automatically be filled by the Deputy Constituency and Deputy Regional Secretary, respectively.
[The Deputy Constituency and Deputy Regional Secretaries, just like the substantive Constituency and Regional Secretaries, are also elected by the same delegates at the same Conference. The Deputy Secretaries should be able to occupy the positions of the substantive Secretaries in the absence of the latter.]
Article 7(27)
Amend article 7(27) of the Constitution to give voting rights to National and Regional Officers at the Constituency Delegates Conference at the Constituency they hail from.
[This amendment strengthens the connections between these Officers and the respective Constituencies they hail from, where they may also serve as Patrons and source of logistical support. This amendment is also geared towards the proposed limited expansion of the electoral college pending the OMOV system.]
Articles 7(27); 9(25); 10(2)
Amend articles 7(27), 9(25) & 10(2) of the Constitution to provide that the Party shall hold Constituency/Regional/ National Delegates Conferences every two years (i.e. biennially) instead of annually.
[This amendment looks at holding timely but necessary Conferences across all levels of the Party. There shall also be sufficient time to hold other equally important Conferences within the period before the biennial conference. Where it becomes necessary, an Extraordinary Delegates Conference may be called.]
Article 7(27)(b)
Amend article 7(27)(b) of the Constitution to give voting rights to the Electoral Area Executives at the Constituency Biennial Delegates Conference.
[Currently, Electoral Area Coordinators and all Polling Station Executives have voting rights at the Constituency Delegates Conference. The proposed Electoral Area Executives (made up of the Electoral Area Coordinator to be now called Electoral Area Chairperson and four (4) other executives) should have voting rights at the Constituency Delegates Conference.]
Articles 7(29); 9(27)
Amend articles 7(29) & 9(27) of the Constitution to allow Constituency and Regional Secretaries to present reports on the state of the Party at the Constituency and Regional Delegates Conference, with the prior approval of the Constituency and Regional Executive Committee as the case may be.
[Constituency and Regional Secretaries are the administrative heads of the Constituency and Regional Secretariats of the Party and it is appropriate that they present a report on the state of the party to the Constituency and Regional Party, respectively to the Delegates Conference with prior approval of the Constituency and Regional Executive Committee, as the case may be.]
Articles 7(29); 9(27)
Amend articles 7(29) & 9(27) of the Constitution to require the statement of account to be presented by the Constituency and Regional Treasurers at the Constituency and Regional Delegates Conference to have received prior approval of the Constituency and Regional Executive Committee as the case may be.
[This allows the Constituency and Regional Executive Committee to scrutinise and give a stamp of approval to the statements before they are presented at the Delegates Conference.]
Article 7(30)
Amend article 7(30) of the Constitution to provide that the Regional Executive Committee shall appoint persons, other than Polling Station, Electoral Area and Constituency Officers, to supervise Polling Station and Electoral Area elections.
[Constituencies are directly involved in the compilation of the album for organising Polling Station and Constituency elections. It is therefore prudent that supervision of these elections should be taken to the Regional level to absolve it from any conflict of interest.]
Article 8; Article 8(5)
Amend article 8 of the Constitution to specifically provide that the External Branches shall have three (3) representatives on the National Executive Committee and five(5) representatives on the National Council.
[The Party Constitution under article 8(5) grants the External Branches representation at the National Executive Committee and the National Council, but does not indicate the number of representatives they should appoint to serve on these bodies. This amendment brings clarity to the number of representatives the External Branches shall have on the National Executive Committee and National Council.]
Articles 8; 13(11)
Amend articles 8 & 13(11) of the Constitution to specifically provide that all former and current executives of the External Branches shall have voting rights at the Presidential Primaries.
[The amendment seeks to expand the electoral college for the Presidential Primaries to promote inclusivity and broader participation. This is in line with the proposed limited expansion.]
Articles 8; 10(2)(f)
Amend articles 8 & 10(2)(f) of the Constitution to specifically provide that ALL current executives of the External Branches shall have voting rights at the National Delegates Conference.
[Previously, only twelve (12) Executives of the External Branches were allowed to vote at the National Delegates Conference. This amendment, allowing all of them to vote, promotes inclusivity and broader participation. The amendment is also in line with the proposed limited expansion.]
Article 9
Amend article 9 of the Constitution to include Regional Electoral Affairs Officer, Regional Research Officer (note: the decoupling of the two), Regional Legal Officer, Regional PWD Coordinator, and a Special Duties Officer as part of the Regional Executive Committee.
[This represents a limited expansion of the Regional Executive Committee.]
Article 9(1)
Amend article 9(1) of the Constitution to expand the composition of the Regional Executive Committee members to include Constituency Secretaries.
[Constituency Secretaries are responsible for all administrative matters at the Constituency level and it is only proper that they are part of the Regional Executive Committees.]
Article 9(1) new provision
Amend the Constitution by inserting a new provision to create a Regional Steering Committee composed of the Regional Officers, the Chairman of the Regional Council of Elders and the Regional Parliamentary Caucus Chair.
[The proposed amendment aligns with what pertains at the national level, where we have a National Steering Committee, which is the body in charge of the day-to-day administration of the Party at the National level. The Regional Steering Committee shall also be responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Party in the Regions. The Regional Steering Committee system shall facilitate decision-making at the Regional level.]
Articles 9; 10(2); 13
Amend articles 9, 10(2) & 13 of the Constitution to grant voting rights to the Regional & National TESCON Coordinators and the TESCON President from each recognised tertiary institution in the country at the Regional and National Delegates Conference, respectively.
[The Regional TESCON Coordinators are in charge of coordinating all the activities of TESCON in the various tertiary institutions within the Region. It is only proper to grant them voting rights at Conferences, just like the Executives whose activities they coordinate. The same principle applies to the National TESCON Coordinators. The specificity on the TESCON President and not just any representative of TESCON avoids the usual challenge with validation of the representative from TESCON.]
Articles 9(25); 10(2); article 13(11)
Amend article 10(2) & 13(11) of the Constitution to grant voting rights to the TESCON President (and NOT a representative from TESCON) from each recognised tertiary institution in the country at the Regional and National Delegates Conference.
[The specificity on the TESCON President and not just any representative of TESCON avoids the usual challenge with validation of the representative from TESCON.]
Article 10; new provision
Amend article 10 of the Constitution by inserting a new provision to include the consideration of Position Papers from Sector Committees of the Party on key developments since the last National Delegates Conference at National Delegates Conference.
[The proposed amendment allows the National Delegates Conference to not only focus on speeches and election of national officers (where necessary), but to also consider and debate the Reports submitted by the Party’s Sector Committees on key national issues and to pass appropriate resolutions on same.]
Article 10; new provision
Amend article 10 of the Constitution by inserting a new provision to modify the composition of the Sector Committees under the National Executive Committee to include both Members of Parliament and non-Members of Parliament as well as their functions.
[This allows the Party to marshal its available best brains to serve on the various Sector Committees whether or not they are Members of Parliament.]
Articles 10(2)(3)(e); 13(11); 16
Amend articles 10(2)(3)(e) & 13 of the Constitution to make all Members of the National Council of Elders delegates at the National Delegates Conference and the Presidential Primaries.
[Considering the indispensable roles played by the National Council of Elders, they deserve more representation at the party’s highest decision-making body. In any case, per Article 16, the membership of the National Council of Elders shall not exceed 30, out of which, 15 are already members/delegates to the National Annual Delegates Conference.]
Article 10(3)
Amend article 10(3) of the Constitution to increase the representation of the National Council of Elders on the National Council from one(1) to five (5) members, including the Chairman of the National Council of Elders.
[The National Council of Elders is the foremost advisory body of the Party and therefore ought to be adequately represented at the second-highest decision-making body of the Party.]
Article 10(3)
Amend article 10(3) of the Constitution to provide for four (4) additional Standing Committees and enable the National Council to create new Standing Committees as and when the Council deem fit. The new four (4) Standing Committees shall be the Electoral Affairs Committee, Communications Committee, Political Strategy & Policy Committee and Security & Intelligence Committee.
[The proposed additional Standing Committees to be created are indispensable and crucial in supporting the National Council and by extension the Party to function more effectively. The amendment also grants the National Council the mandate to create additional Standing Committees as and when necessary.]
Article 10(3)A
Amend article 10(3)(A) of the Constitution to expand the composition of the Finance Committee from six (6) to ten (10) Members in addition to the National Treasurer.
[This amendment expands the composition of the Finance Committee in order to enhance the effectiveness of the Committee.]
Article 10(3)(2)(d)
Amend article 10(3)(2)(d) of the Constitution to expressly provide that Chairpersons of Standing Committees and Directors at the Party Headquarters shall have voting rights at the National Council and consequently vote in the Presidential Primaries.
[This amendment admits Chairmen of Standing Committees and Directors at the Party Headquarters into membership at the National Council with voting rights.]
Article 10(3)(4)
Amend article 10(3)(4) of the Constitution to include former Majority and former Minority Leaders to the composition of the National Executive Committee and National Council.
[The National Executive Committee stands to benefit immensely from the experiences ofpersons who have once led the Party’s Parliamentary Group as Majority or Minority Leaders.]
Article 10(4) new provision
Amend article 10 of the Constitution by inserting a new provision to provide that the National Executive Committee shall, in consultation with the Presidential Candidate, develop the campaign structure and establish a Campaign Advisory Committee to oversee the Campaign Team.
[The Presidential Campaign should be a collaboration between the Party and the Presidential Candidate.]
Article 10; new provision
Amend article 10 of the Constitution by inserting a new provision to specifically provide that the National Chairperson shall be the Leader of the Party.
[The proposed amendment affirms the position of the National Chairperson as the Leader of the Party.]
Article 10(5)
Amend article 10(5) of the Constitution to specifically provide that the National Chairperson shall chair the Party’s Campaign Advisory Committee.
[The National Chairperson, as the Leader of the Party, should chair the Party’s Campaign Advisory Committee to enhance collaborative work between the Party and the Campaign.]
Article 10(4)(2)
Amend article 10(4)(2) of the Constitution to increase the representation of the Parliamentary Group on the National Executive Committee from one (1) to three(3), comprising the Leader and two (2) others, one of whom shall be a woman.
[The Parliamentary Group is a critical organ of the party. It is the Group that champions the Party’s policies and agenda in the Legislative arm. The amendment seeks to increase the representation of the Parliamentary Group on the National Executive Committee.]
Article 10(7)(3); 10(8)
Amend articles 10(7)(3) & 10(8) of the Constitution to provide that the National Treasurer shall report to the General Secretary.
[The General Secretary is the Party’s chief administrator, and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Party and all Officers except the National Chairperson and Vice Chairpersons report to him. The amendment aligns with the administrative structure of the Party.]
Article 10(10)
Amend article 10(10) of the Constitution to remove the President from the composition of the National Steering Committee of the National Executive Committee.
[The Steering Committee is in charge of the day-to-day administration of the Party and should comprise only the ten(10) Elected Officers, the Presidential candidate, Parliamentary Leader and Chairman of the National Council of Elders.]
Article 11
Amend article 11 of the Constitution to specifically include a provision that allows the Constituency Executive Committee to remove a Polling Station or Electoral Area Officer from office with the prior approval of the Regional Executive Committee, upon receipt of a Petition from a Member.
[The Constitution has no provision on how Polling Station and Electoral Area Officers may be removed from office.]
Article 11
Amend article 11 of the Constitution to include a provision requiring the need for the body to be constituted by the Executive Committee, to recommend removal before the summoning of an Extraordinary Delegates Conference for the purpose of removing an Elected Officer from office, and for specified timelines for the removal process of such Elected Officer.
[The amendment brings clarity in the removal of Officers and avoids the convening of an Extraordinary Delegates Conference without recommendation from the body constituted by the Executive Committee.]
Article 11(7)
Amend article 11(7) of the Constitution to explicitly provide guidelines/procedure for the removal from office of an appointed Officer/Executive to be done by the relevant Executive Committee with prior approval of the immediately higher Executive Committee.
[The amendment clarifies the process for the removal of appointed Officers.]
Article 12; new provision
Amend the Constitution by inserting a new provision to provide that National Officers, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, CEOs and other government appointees who file to contest to become a Parliamentary Candidate of the Party in a Constituency with a sitting Member of Parliament, shall resign their positions at least twelve (12) months to the National General Elections.
[This is to ensure fair competition and level playing field to all prospective aspirants for the position of Parliamentary Candidate.]
New provision; articles 12 &13
Amend articles 12 &13 of the Constitution and insert a new provision to grant voting rights to former Members of Parliament, former Parliamentary Candidates, former Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), former Ministers, former Deputy Ministers who are card-bearing members of the Party at the Parliamentary and Presidential Primaries.
[The amendment seeks to expand the electoral college for the Presidential Primaries to promote inclusivity and broader participation. This is in line with the proposed limited expansion.]
New provision; articles 12 &13
Amend articles 12 & 13 of the Constitution and insert a new provision to grant voting rights to former Constituency Executives, former Regional Executives at the Parliamentary and Presidential Primaries.
[The amendment seeks to expand the electoral college for the Presidential Primaries to promote inclusivity and broader participation. This is in line with the proposed limited expansion.]
Article 13 (1)(6)
Amend article 13(1)(6) of the Constitution to provide that National Officers, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, CEOs and other government appointees who file to become the Presidential Candidate of the Party, shall resign their positions at least twenty-four(24) months to the National General Elections.
[This is to ensure fair competition and level playing field to all prospective aspirants for the flagbearership.]
Article 13(1)(9)
Amend article 13(1)(9) of the Constitution to completely abolish the Special Electoral College/Super Delegates System.
[The Special Electoral College system which was introduced in the 2009 constitutional amendments to shortlist aspiring Presidential Candidates, has outlived its usefulness.]
Article 13(4)
Amend article 13(4) of the Constitution to provide for the election of a Presidential Candidate when the Party is in government to a date not later than eighteen (18) months instead of eleven (11) months before the National General Elections.
[This amendment gives the party’s presidential candidate an extra seven(7) months to campaign before the general elections.]
Article 13(11)
Amend article 13(11) to grant voting rights to five(5) members of the Constituency Council of Elders and ten(10) members of the Regional Council of Elders at the Presidential Primaries.
[These Constituency and Regional Elders are members of the Constituency and Regional Delegates Conference, respectively. Polling Station and Electoral Area Executives, who form part of the delegates to the Constituency Conference, have been given voting rights at the Presidential Primaries. The exclusion of the Elders is an omission which should be rectified.]
Article 13(11)
Amend article 13(11) of the Constitution to include thirty (30) National Patrons and all Members of the National Council of Elders to be part of the Presidential Primaries.
[The National Council of Elders is the foremost advisory body of the Party and therefore ought to be adequately represented at the second-highest decision-making body of the Party. National Patrons also occupy an important position in the Party structure. The expansion of their numbers in the Presidential Primaries is appropriate.]
Article 13(11)
Amend article 13(11) to grant voting rights to five(5) Constituency Patrons and ten(10) Regional Patrons at the Presidential Primaries.
[These Constituency and Regional Patrons are members of the Constituency and Regional Delegates Conference, respectively. Polling Station and Electoral Area executives, who form part of the delegates to the Constituency Conference, have been given voting rights at the Presidential Primaries. The exclusion of the Patrons is an omission which should be rectified.]
Amend article 13(11) to grant voting rights to one (1) TESCON Patron from every recognised tertiary institution at the Presidential Primaries.
[This amendment allows for inclusivity and broader participation. This is in line with proposed limited expansion.]
Article 15(3)
Amend article 15(3) of the Constitution to make all female delegates at the National Delegates Conference eligible to vote for the position of National Women’s Organiser.
[The current regulations on the election of the National Women Organiser is not inclusive. This amendment allows all female delegates to participate in the election of the National Women’s Organiser.]
Article 15(4)
Amend article 15(4) of the Constitution by defining ‘Youth’ in the Constitution to refer to a Member of the Party who is not above the age of 35 years.
[The age limit for ‘Youth’ per all the International Conventions and National Laws shows that the highest age limit is 35 years. The UN puts the age bracket between 15 -24 years; WHO: 15-29; UNICEF: 15-24; ILO: 15-24; African Youth Charter: 15-35. In Ghana, the National Youth Authority Act, 2016 (Act 939) defines a ‘Youth’ as a person between 15 -35 years.]
Article 15(4)
Amend article 15(4) of the Constitution to make all youth delegates at the National Delegates Conference eligible to vote for the position of National Youth Organiser.
[The current regulations on the election of the National Youth Organiser is not inclusive. This amendment allows all youth delegates to participate in the election of the National Youth Organiser.]
Article 15(5)(d) (e) and related provisions that refer to the Nasara Coordinator at all relevant levels
Amend article 15(5)(d)(e) and related provisions of the Constitution to refer to Nasara Coordinators as Nasara Organisers.
[By the nature of their functions, Nasara Coordinators should be referred to as Nasara Organisers, just as is done with Women and Youth Organisers.]
