Over 5,500 delegates are expected to converge at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium, Legon, today, July 19, 2025, for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Delegates Conference.
The theme for the most anticipated National Delegates Conference is “Rebuilding Together with our Values”.
At the heart of the day’s deliberations is a proposed amendment to expand the base of delegates who elect the party’s presidential candidate, a move party stalwarts argue will promote inclusivity and reduce elite dominance. The amendment, jointly proposed by Peter Mac Manu and Evans Nimako, seeks to abolish Article 13(1)(9) of the NPP constitution which established the Special Electoral College.
“The Special Electoral College, per its composition, is not representative, delays the conduct of presidential primaries, and has never served the purpose of minimising undue contestation,” the proponents argue in their submission.
If adopted, the reform will see a massive expansion of the Electoral College. The new structure would include members of the National Council, National Executive Committee, Regional and Constituency Executive Committees, Electoral Area Coordinators, Polling Station Executives, National Council of Elders, National Patrons, all past National Directors, sitting and past MPs, TESCON representatives from each recognised tertiary institution, all card-bearing ministers and deputy ministers, MMDCEs, 15 delegates from every external branch, founder members, and three representatives each from special organs of the party.
In total, over 50 proposed amendments to the NPP constitution are up for discussion, with organisers saying these resolutions have already been simplified and shared with delegates well ahead of today’s gathering to facilitate a smoother adoption process.
Key proposed amendments;
1. Presidential Primaries and Electoral College Reforms
Abolition of Special Electoral College: Proposals by former National Chairman Peter Mac Manu and others seek to eliminate Article 13(9), which mandates a special college to shortlist presidential aspirants to five. Critics argue the current system is elitist and prone to manipulation.
Expanded Delegates List: The electoral college for presidential primaries may include all polling station executives, former MPs, MMDCEs, TESCON representatives, and diaspora branch delegates.
2. Grassroots restructuring
Polling Station Expansion: Amendments suggest increasing polling station executives from 5 to 11–15 members, adding roles like deputies and council of elders.
Electoral Area Committees: Replace single coordinators with five-member committees to improve oversight and inclusivity.
3. Women and youth representation
National Women’s Organizer Election: Hon. Mavis Hawa Koomson proposes allowing all female delegates to vote for the position, arguing for broader inclusivity.
Youth Wing Age Cap: A proposal to lower the youth age limit from 40 to 35 years aims to align leadership with younger members’ aspirations.
4. Nasara wing reforms
The Nasara Wing seeks renaming to "Nasara and Settler Organizer" and inclusion at polling stations to bolster mobilization in Zongo and settler communities.
5. Financial and administrative overhauls
National Treasurer Role: NPP-USA suggests rebranding the position as "Chief Fundraising Officer" to emphasize resource mobilization.
Finance Committee Expansion: Dr. Charles Dwamena proposes merging campaign fundraising under a "Finance and Fundraising Committee" to improve accountability.
6. Inclusion of former officeholders
Former MPs, MMDCEs, and CEOs are proposed as voting delegates at constituency, regional, and national levels to leverage their experience.
7. Controversial proposals
Early Presidential Primaries: Some advocate holding presidential primaries before other internal elections to reduce factionalism.
Appointment vs. Election of General Secretary: A faction led by Hon. Kofi Obiri Yeboah argues for appointing the General Secretary based on merit rather than electoral popularity.
8. Next steps
The proposals will be debated at the Extraordinary Conference, with the 9-member Constitution Amendment Committee tasked to refine recommendations. General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong urged members to review the proposals, emphasizing their potential to "modernize the party and secure victory in 2028."
What else is on the agenda?
In addition to the constitutional amendments, delegates will also consider the National Chairman’s statement, the General Secretary’s report, and the National Treasurer’s financial statements.
With thousands of delegates from across the country expected to participate, today's conference is seen as a make-or-break moment for the party’s future direction as it gears up for the 2026 general elections.
Meanwhile, the party has placed a total ban on campaign-related materials, including posters, flyers, T-shirts, and banners, across Accra and the venue.
According to the party executives, compliance teams will remove and destroy any such materials, and no campaign activity will be permitted before, during, or after the event.
Read all the proposals for amendments to the NPP constitution below;