At its National Delegates Conference on Saturday, July 19, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) rejected two high-profile proposals aimed at redefining internal party structures and age classifications.
Held at the University of Ghana Stadium, the conference brought together over 5,000 delegates to deliberate on 56 motions drawn from more than 300 amendment proposals across the country.
One of the most debated proposals—Motion 54—sought to amend Article 15(4) of the party’s constitution to lower the upper age limit for defining a youth member from 40 to 35 years. Supporters, including Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, argued this change would align the NPP with international benchmarks such as the UN and African Youth Charter.
“The UN defines youth as 15 to 24, WHO uses 15 to 29, and the African Youth Charter says 15 to 35,” Oppong Nkrumah said, advocating for consistency with global norms.
Despite this, the motion was overwhelmingly dismissed in a voice vote. Chairman of the Constitutional Amendment Committee, Frank Davies, acknowledged the outcome: “The ‘No’ has it, meaning we revert to the status quo.”
Another rejected motion—Motion 17—sought to transfer oversight of Polling Station and Electoral Area elections from constituency executives to Regional Executive Committees. Proponents argued this shift would eliminate conflicts of interest, as regional teams would appoint neutral supervisors.
However, the delegates voted to maintain the current structure, signaling a strong preference for localised decision-making and grassroots autonomy.
This year’s conference, themed “Rebuilding Together with Our Values,” comes at a pivotal time for the party as it repositions following its 2024 electoral defeat. With dozens of amendments debated, the outcomes reflect both a desire to evolve and a resolve to preserve existing frameworks that delegates believe serve the party’s broader base.
These decisions are expected to influence how the NPP reorganises and engages its youth and grassroots structures in the lead-up to the 2028 elections.
