Delegates of Ghana's New Patriotic Party have approved a constitutional amendment that makes the party's flagbearer its leader. This change was one of 14 amendments passed at the party's National Delegates Conference in Kumasi. All 14 motions put forward by the Constitution Amendment Committee were approved. The amendment comes as the party prepares for the 2028 general election with Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as its flagbearer.
The approval of the amendment reverses a January 31, 2026 conference decision that made the National Chairman the party leader. Acting National Chairman Joseph Danquah Smith had proposed postponing the amendments to the next conference, citing insufficient time for delegates to consider them. However, the vote went ahead, with 7,163 delegates from all 16 regions participating. The Electoral Commission supervised the elections and verified delegates.
Another significant amendment changes the election process for Vice Chairpersons. Previously, candidates contested for National First Vice Chairman, with the top three candidates becoming Vice Chairpersons based on their vote count. Under the new system, candidates will declare for and contest specific Vice Chairperson positions. Delegates also approved the appointment of three additional Vice Chairpersons who will not be elected.
The NPP Constitution Amendment Committee Chairman, Frank Davies, stated that the amendments were necessary due to "acts of omission and commission" linked to the last amendment in 2025. He emphasized that these changes are crucial for the party's organisational structure. Other approved amendments include the creation of Deputy Communications Officer positions and the elevation of the IT Officer to an executive position.
The review of the party's constitution was the first part of the conference, followed by the election of new national officers. A total of 31 polling stations were set up for the elections, which saw voting for nine national executive positions. The newly elected officers will play a crucial role in shaping the party's strategy ahead of the 2028 general election.
The NPP's decision to make the flagbearer its leader is seen as a significant move, especially with Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the party's flagbearer. This change is expected to have implications for the party's leadership and organisational structure. The party's General Secretary, Justin Kodua, was retained in his position, while Titus Glover won the National Organiser race.
The NPP conference also saw the election of other national executives, including Hawa Koomson as the National Women's Organiser and Miracles Aboagye as the Director of Communications. The party's National Chairman, Joseph Danquah Smith, had earlier urged delegates to work together to ensure the party's success in the 2028 election. The NPP is one of Ghana's major political parties, and its internal decisions have significant implications for the country's politics.
Key points
- The New Patriotic Party has approved a constitutional amendment making the party's flagbearer its leader.
- The amendment was one of 14 approved at the party's National Delegates Conference in Kumasi.
- The change is expected to have significant implications for the party's leadership and organisational structure ahead of the 2028 general election.
