A total of 7,163 New Patriotic Party (NPP) delegates are meeting at Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi to elect party officials and decide whether to approve a series of proposed constitutional amendments.
The conference has two key items on its agenda. By the end of 3 October, delegates must select candidates for nine vacant positions from a field of 47 aspirants.
They will also vote on proposed changes covering party leadership, the election and appointment of vice-chairpersons, communications and information technology structures, the National Steering Committee, and participation in internal primaries.
Proposed constitutional amendments
One of the central proposals concerns who should lead the party.
The amendment would reverse the January clause that made the National Chairman the party leader “at all material times”. Under the new proposal, the party’s Flagbearer would become its leader.
Changes have also been proposed for the election of vice-chairpersons. At present, all candidates contest the position of 1st Vice-Chairperson, with the first, second and third-placed candidates by votes taking the respective positions.
The proposed system would require each aspirant to declare in advance which specific Vice-Chairperson position they are contesting before voting begins.
Delegates are also being asked to approve the appointment of three additional Vice-Chairpersons. Those appointees would not be required to stand for election.
The proposed amendments would further create additional vice-chairperson positions at national, regional and constituency levels.
Communications and IT roles
The NPP is considering the creation of Deputy Communications Officer positions at national level, alongside deputy regional and constituency communication officers.
The position of IT Officer would also be upgraded to an executive role. In addition, IT officers would be included in the executive structures of the party at regional and constituency levels.
Another proposal would restore the President’s membership of the National Steering Committee.
The final major amendment would expand participation in the party’s presidential and parliamentary primaries. If approved, all card-bearing members would be allowed to take part as delegates in those contests.
The proposed changes are being considered alongside the elections to fill the nine vacant positions at the conference in Kumasi.
Credit: With files from Meta AI
