The New Patriotic Party (NPP), Ghana's opposition party, has amended its constitution, making its presidential candidate the leader of the party. This change aims to formalize the party's leadership structure and eliminate potential contestation over who exercises political leadership. The amendment to Articles 10(4)(1) and 13 recognizes the presidential candidate as the principal focal point of the party when it is in government.
The amendment establishes a logical succession of political leadership, where the presidential candidate leads when one has been elected, and the President leads when the party is in government but has no presidential candidate. This change was one of 14 amendments tabled and approved during the party's national delegates conference held at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. The conference saw various changes to the party's constitution, aiming to strengthen its leadership and administrative structures.
The immediate past acting National Chairman, Danquah Smith Buttey, had requested a postponement of the amendments to the next conference due to time constraints. However, the Chairman of the constitutional and legal affairs committee, Frank Davies, presented the 14 amendments to the delegates, who subsequently voted to accept them. One of the key amendments reinstates the President as a member of the national steering committee when the party is in government.
The amendments also include changes to increase the representation of the National Council of Elders on the National Disciplinary Committee from one to two members. This aims to strengthen the representation of the National Council of Elders and enhance the experience, wisdom, and institutional perspective brought to bear on disciplinary proceedings. Additionally, the amendments provide for the appointment of one additional constituency vice-chairperson to the composition of the constituency executive committee.
The party also amended Articles 7(2) and 9(1) to include regional information technology officer and the constituency information technology officer as members of their respective regional and constituency executive committees. This recognizes the growing importance of technology, information, and data in party administration and electoral activities. Furthermore, the amendments provide for the appointment of deputy regional communications officers and deputy constituency communications officers as members of their respective regional and constituency executive committees.
Other amendments include granting voting rights to the chairpersons of the regional council of elders and regional patrons at the national delegates conference. This aims to ensure consistency and fairness in the allocation of voting rights and enhance the recognition, morale, and sense of belonging of these members. The party also mandated 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 NPP's amendments reflect efforts to strengthen its internal structures and processes. The changes are expected to promote greater balance, fairness, and confidence in the party's disciplinary processes and enhance leadership participation and coordination at various levels. The amendments also aim to ensure effective coordination and harmony between the party and government.
Key points
- The NPP has amended its constitution to make its presidential candidate the leader of the party.
- The amendments aim to formalize the party's leadership structure and eliminate potential contestation.
- The changes include granting voting rights to regional council of elders and patrons at the national delegates conference.
