Over 7,000 delegates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) gathered at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi have by voice votes amended sections of the party’s constitution.
The amendments were read by the Chairman of the Constitution Amendment Committee, Frank Davies, surrounded by members.
“Aye!!!” they shouted in response to the movement of the motion by Mr Frank Davies on October 3.
Below is a full text of approved amendments:
01 MOTION ONE
Amend Articles 4 (1) (7) (c) and 16(9) to increase the representation of the National Council of Elders on the National Disciplinary Committee from one (1) to two (2) members.
[The proposal seeks to strengthen the representation of the National Council of Elders on the National Disciplinary Committee by increasing its membership from one to two. This will enhance the experience, wisdom and institutional perspective brought to bear on disciplinary proceedings, while promoting greater balance, fairness and confidence in the Party’s disciplinary processes].
02 MOTION TWO
Amend Article 7(2) of the Constitution to provide for the appointment of one additional Constituency Vice Chairperson to the composition of the Constituency Executive Committee.
[The proposal seeks to strengthen the capacity and effectiveness of the Constituency Executive Committees by providing one additional Constituency Vice Chairperson. This will broaden leadership participation, facilitate the effective distribution of responsibilities, and improve coordination and administration at the constituency level].
03 MOTION THREE
Amend Articles 7(2) and 9(1) of the Constitution to include the Regional Information Technology (IT) Officer and Constituency Information Technology (IT) Officer as members of their respective Regional and Constituency Executive Committees.
[The amendment seeks to formally recognize IT Officers as members of Regional and Constituency Executive Committees, reflecting the growing importance of technology, information and data in Party administration and electoral activities. Their inclusion will strengthen data management, digital coordination, accountability and information security, while providing the necessary authority, independence and institutional protection for them to effectively discharge their technical responsibilities. It will also enhance the Party’s operational efficiency, institutional continuity, and electoral preparedness in an increasingly digital political environment].
04 MOTION FOUR
Amend Articles 7(2) and 9(1) of the Constitution to provide for the appointment of Deputy Regional Communications Officers and Deputy Constituency Communications Officers as members of their respective Regional and Constituency Executive Committees.
[The proposal is necessitated by the transition of Regional and Constituency Communications Officers from appointive to elective positions, bringing them in line with other elected officers who have deputies. The expansion of the communications structure from the Polling Station and Electoral Area levels has also significantly increased the number of Party communicators requiring coordination. Given the critical role of communication in modern electoral politics, Deputy Communications Officers will provide essential support to the substantive officers, enhance coordination and ensure the effective management of the Party’s growing communications network].
05 MOTION FIVE
Amend Article 9 (1) to provide for the appointment of two additional Regional Vice Chairpersons to the composition of the Regional Executive Committee.
[The proposal seeks to strengthen the capacity and effectiveness of the Regional Executive Committees by providing for two additional Regional Vice Chairpersons. This will broaden leadership participation, facilitate the effective distribution of responsibilities, and improve coordination and administration at the regional level].
06 MOTION SIX
Amend Article 10(1) (3) to grant voting rights to the Chairpersons of the Regional Council of Elders at the National Delegates Conference.
[The proposal seeks to ensure consistency and fairness in the allocation of voting rights at the National Delegates Conference. Since Regional Council of Elders Chairpersons are members of the Regional Steering Committees per Article 9(3), and other members of these Regional Steering Committees enjoy voting rights, extending the same right to the Chairpersons will eliminate an anomaly and ensure equitable representation].
07 MOTION SEVEN
Amend Article 10(1)(3) to grant voting rights to the Chairpersons of the Regional Patrons at the National Delegates Conference.
[The proposal seeks to recognize the significant financial and other contributions of Party Patrons to the growth and sustenance of the Party. Granting voting rights to Regional Patrons’ Chairpersons at the National Delegates Conference will enhance their recognition, boost morale, and strengthen their sense of belonging and participation in Party decision making].
08 MOTION EIGHT
Amend Article 10(2) of the Constitution to mandate the National Council to provide for an Administrative Manual containing the detailed duties, responsibilities and functions of all elected and non-elected Party officers at all levels of the Party.
[The proposal seeks to institutionalize a clear framework for the duties and responsibilities of all Party officers. The Manual will promote clarity, consistency and accountability, reduce duplication and conflicts of roles, and ensure that officers at all levels have clear guidance for the effective discharge of their functions].
09 MOTION NINE
Amend Article 10(3)(2) and 10(4)(2) to provide that:
“the Presidential Candidate shall, in consultation with the National Executive Committee, develop the campaign structure for the presidential election and appoint the Chairperson and other members of the National Campaign Advisory Committee, subject to the approval of the National Council, to oversee and coordinate the national campaign of the Party.”
[The amendment seeks to ensure that campaign leadership is aligned with the vision of the Presidential Candidate, while preserving the Party’s institutional oversight. The Presidential Candidate should therefore lead the development of the campaign structure and selection of the Campaign Advisory Committee, in consultation with the National Executive Committee, ensuring both strategic effectiveness and collective Party ownership].
10 MOTION TEN
Amend Articles 10(4)(1) and 13 to provide that:
a. When the Party has an elected Presidential Candidate, the Presidential Candidate shall be the Leader of the Party.
b. When the Party is in Government, the President shall be the Leader of the Party until a Presidential Candidate is elected.
[The amendment seeks to formalize the Party’s leadership structure and eliminate ambiguity or potential contestation over who exercises political leadership of the Party. It recognizes the Presidential Candidate as the prin-cipal political focal point of the Party and, where the Party is in Govern-ment, The President as the holder of the highest executive and political authority. The proposal therefore establishes a clear and logical succession of political leadership: the Presidential Candidate leads where one has been elected; the President leads where the Party is in Government but has no Presidential Candidate].
11 MOTION ELEVEN
Amend Article 10(5) to provide for the appointment of three additional National Vice-Chairpersons (totaling six: three elected, three appointed). Appointed Vice-Chairpersons will not be eligible for succession to the National Chairmanship.
[The proposed amendment eases the National Chairperson’s workload and improves regional mobilization while promoting geographical, ethnic, religious, and gender balance across leadership. The proposed amendment satisfies Article 55(9) of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution by ensuring national leadership reflects all 16 regions].
12 MOTION TWELVE
Amend Article 10(5) to provide that the offices of First, Second and Third National Vice-Chairpersons shall be separate elective positions, each contested independently at the National Delegates Conference. Accordingly, candidates shall specify, at nomination, the particular office they seek to contest.
[The amendment seeks to deepen internal Party democracy, promote fair and transparent competition, and provide clarity in the respective roles of the First, Second and Third National Vice-Chairpersons. Separate elections will enable each delegate to distinctively determine who they want to serve in each of the three positions, rather than voting for a general pool of Vice-Chairperson candidates. It will also encourage aspirants to present distinct visions for the specific office they seek, while promoting greater accountability, effectiveness and operational efficiency in the Party’s leadership structure].
13 MOTION THIRTEEN
Amend Article 10(10)(2) to reinstate the “President” when the Party is in government, as a member of the National Steering Committee.
[The amendment seeks to include the President, as Leader of Government and Leader of the Party when in Government, in the National Steering Committee to ensure effective coordination and harmony between the Party and Government. The President’s participation will facilitate timely consultation and alignment on urgent political and governance matters, strengthening the Party-Government relationship].
14 MOTION FOURTEEN
Amend Article 15(1)(2) to add a new paragraph (g) mandating the Women’s Wing to champion and promote the progressive achievement of women participation in our political dispensation in accordance with the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024 (Act 1121).
[The amendment seeks to strengthen the mandate of the Women’s Wing by expressly assigning it responsibility for advancing the Party’s strong belief in women participation in politics, having passed the Affirmative Action Bill under an NPP government. It will provide an institutional basis for the Women’s Wing to promote, monitor and support the progressive achievement of women politics in line with the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024 (Act 1121).
