More than 7,000 delegates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have approved a series of constitutional amendments by voice vote at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.
The changes were presented on October 3 by Frank Davies, chairman of the Constitution Amendment Committee, who was accompanied by committee members. Delegates responded with a resounding “Aye!!!” when the motion was put forward.
The approved amendments are:
1. National Disciplinary Committee
Articles 4 (1) (7) (c) and 16(9) will be amended to increase the number of National Council of Elders representatives on the National Disciplinary Committee from one to two. The NPP says the change will bring greater experience, institutional knowledge, balance and confidence to disciplinary proceedings.
2. Constituency leadership
Article 7(2) will be changed to add one Constituency Vice Chairperson to each Constituency Executive Committee. The move is intended to broaden participation in leadership, improve the distribution of responsibilities and strengthen constituency-level administration.
3. Information Technology officers
Articles 7(2) and 9(1) will be amended to make Regional Information Technology (IT) Officers and Constituency Information Technology (IT) Officers members of their respective executive committees.
The amendment formally recognises the importance of technology, information and data in party administration and electoral work. It is also designed to improve data management, digital coordination, accountability and information security, while giving IT officers the authority and institutional protection required to perform their duties.
4. Deputy Communications Officers
The same articles will provide for Deputy Regional Communications Officers and Deputy Constituency Communications Officers to join their respective executive committees.
The proposal follows the change in status of Regional and Constituency Communications Officers from appointive to elective positions. It also reflects the expansion of the party’s communications structure beyond polling station and electoral area levels. Deputies will support the substantive officers and help coordinate the growing network of NPP communicators.
5. Regional executives
Article 9(1) will be amended to add two Regional Vice Chairpersons to each Regional Executive Committee, with the stated aim of widening leadership participation and improving regional coordination and administration.
6. Voting rights for elders
An amendment to Article 10(1) (3) will give Chairpersons of the Regional Council of Elders voting rights at the National Delegates Conference. The NPP said this would correct an inconsistency because those chairpersons sit on Regional Steering Committees, whose other members already have voting rights.
7. Voting rights for patrons
Chairpersons of the Regional Patrons will also receive voting rights at the National Delegates Conference under a further amendment to Article 10(1)(3). The proposal recognises the financial and other contributions of party patrons and is intended to strengthen their participation in party decision-making.
8. Administrative Manual
Article 10(2) will require the National Council to produce an Administrative Manual setting out the duties, responsibilities and functions of all elected and non-elected party officers at every level.
The manual is expected to provide clearer guidance, improve accountability and consistency, and reduce duplication or conflict between roles.
9. Presidential campaign structure
Articles 10(3)(2) and 10(4)(2) will specify that the Presidential Candidate, in consultation with the National Executive Committee, will develop the presidential campaign structure and appoint the chairperson and other members of the National Campaign Advisory Committee.
Those appointments will require approval from the National Council. The amendment is intended to align campaign leadership with the Presidential Candidate’s vision while retaining institutional oversight and collective party ownership.
10. Party leadership
Articles 10(4)(1) and 13 will state that an elected Presidential Candidate is the Leader of the Party.
Where the NPP is in government, the President will remain the Leader of the Party until a Presidential Candidate is elected. The change is designed to remove uncertainty over political leadership and establish a clear succession between the Presidential Candidate and the President.
11. Additional National Vice-Chairpersons
Article 10(5) will provide for three additional National Vice-Chairpersons, bringing the total to six: three elected and three appointed. Appointed Vice-Chairpersons will not be eligible to succeed the National Chairperson.
The NPP said the change would ease the National Chairperson’s workload, improve regional mobilisation and promote geographical, ethnic, religious and gender balance. It also said the arrangement meets Article 55(9) of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution by ensuring national leadership reflects all 16 regions.
12. Separate elections for vice-chairpersons
A further amendment to Article 10(5) will make the offices of First, Second and Third National Vice-Chairperson separate elective positions. Each will be contested independently at the National Delegates Conference, and candidates will have to identify the specific office they seek when submitting nominations.
The proposal is intended to deepen internal democracy, promote transparent competition and clarify the responsibilities of the three positions.
13. President on National Steering Committee
Article 10(10)(2) will be amended to restore the President as a member of the National Steering Committee when the party is in government.
The NPP said the change would improve coordination between the party and government and allow timely consultation on urgent political and governance issues.
14. Women’s Wing
Article 15(1)(2) will gain a new paragraph (g), requiring the Women’s Wing to champion and promote the progressive achievement of women’s participation in Ghana’s political system in accordance with the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024 (Act 1121).
The amendment gives the Women’s Wing an institutional mandate to promote, monitor and support increased participation by women in politics, in line with the party’s stated commitment following the passage of the legislation under an NPP government.
