NPP Adopts Sweeping Constitutional Amendments, Extends Special Electoral College for Flagbearer Elections

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has officially adopted major constitutional reforms aimed at enhancing internal democracy, widening grassroots participation, and reshaping the party’s leadership selection process.

The amendments, which received unanimous approval from delegates at the party’s National Delegates Conference held on Saturday, July 19, at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium, include the abolition of the Special Electoral College previously used to shortlist presidential candidates.

Chairman of the Constitution Amendment Committee, Frank Davis, announced the changes during the conference, describing them as a bold step toward greater inclusiveness and fairness within the party.

“The delegates adopted the proposed amendment to expunge the electoral college for the election of the party’s presidential candidate to now include all former Members of Parliament, all former parliamentary candidates, all former MMDCEs, all card-bearing former ministers and deputy ministers, all former regional and constituency executives, branch executives, national council of elders and patrons, as well as TESCON coordinators,” Davis revealed.

With the adoption of this amendment, the controversial Special Delegates Conference — a previous stage in the party’s flagbearer selection process — has been eliminated. The new framework opens up the process to a significantly broader base of party stakeholders, ensuring that more voices across all levels of the party are involved in choosing its presidential candidate.

Davis stressed that the constitutional amendments are designed to strengthen the party’s democratic credentials and give more power to its grassroots structures.

“This reform makes the party more inclusive and representative of its base,” he stated. “It is a recognition that every segment of the NPP, from polling station executives to national patrons, has a stake in our future leadership.”

Addressing concerns over leadership transitions, Davis clarified that all current office holders—from the polling station to the national level—will remain in their positions until the end of their constitutionally mandated terms. The rights of newly eligible participants in the restructured internal electoral system will take effect only after the expiration of the current term of office holders.

“Accordingly, the prospective members who are to be accorded the rights to form part of the structured offices at various levels by elections shall have their rights held in abeyance until upon the expiration of the tenure of the incumbent office holders,” Davis explained.

The constitutional overhaul signals a new chapter for the NPP as it looks to reposition itself following its defeat in the 2024 general elections. Party insiders view the reforms as part of a broader effort to modernize the NPP’s internal governance and re-energize its base ahead of the 2028 electoral cycle.