NPP Delegates approve 54 motions

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) delegates have approved a comprehensive list of 54 motions aimed at strengthening the party’s structure and policies as it gears up for the 2028 general elections.

The motions were adopted during the National Delegates Conference held in Accra on Saturday, July 19, reflecting the party’s commitment to internal democracy and progressive reform.

These motions cover a wide range of issues, including constitutional amendments, electoral reforms, grassroots empowerment, policy development, and party governance.

The delegates, however, firmly rejected two key proposed constitutional amendments — Motion 17 and Motion 54 — signalling strong resistance to changes seen as undermining grassroots structures and youth representation within the party.

Motion 17, which sought to amend Article 7(30) of the NPP Constitution, proposed empowering Regional Executive Committees to appoint individuals — excluding Polling Station, Electoral Area, and Constituency Officers — to supervise polling station and electoral area elections.

However, in a decisive voice vote, delegates rejected the proposal. Many felt that maintaining constituency-level oversight preserved grassroots accountability and protected the autonomy of local party structures.

Motion 54 also suffered a similar fate. It proposed an amendment to Article 15(4) of the Constitution to redefine “youth” in the party as any member “not above the age of 35,” aligning with international and national standards.

Justifying the motion, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah cited benchmarks from the UN, WHO, UNICEF, and the African Youth Charter, all of which define youth as individuals aged between 15 and 35. Ghana’s National Youth Authority Act pegs the youth bracket between 15 and 25.

Read the 54 motions accepted below:

1. MOTION ONE
Article 1
Amend article 1 of the Constitution to include the Party’s Motto, Symbol and Colours.

[The absence of the Party’s Motto, Symbol and Colours in the Constitution is an obvious omission and ought to be rectified. The Party’s Motto, Symbol and Colours must find expression in the Party’s Constitution.]

2. MOTION TWO
Article 3(7)
Amend article 3(7) of the Constitution to give the power to recommend suspension of a Member or an office holder pending disciplinary action against him to the appropriate Disciplinary Committee rather than the Executive Committee.

[The amendment is necessary to ensure justified suspension of party executives (elected and appointed) by Executive Committees, only upon recommendation by the Disciplinary Committee, pending disciplinary proceedings against such Officers. It is the Disciplinary Committee that shall recommend suspension having regard to its preliminary findings.

3. MOTION THREE
Article 4(3)(7)
Amend article 4(3)(7) of the Constitution to allow for a complaint against any Constituency or Regional Officer, whether elected or appointed, to be filed at; (i) in the case of the Constituency Officer, the Regional Executive Committee and (ii) in the case of the Regional Officer, the National Executive Committee.

[The amendment seeks to achieve fair and equal treatment or handling of disciplinary matters involving ‘elected officers’ and ‘appointed officers’ who are at the same level of the Party by providing that they should be dealt with by the same Disciplinary Committee.]

4. MOTION FOUR
Article 5(6)
Amend article 5(6) of the Constitution to adopt the Electoral Commission of Ghana’s demarcation/cluster of Electoral Areas.

[The EC’s Electoral Area systems are pre-determined, bereft of controversies and involves more polling stations than the party’s demarcations of Electoral Area. The current provision in the Party’s constitution is that where polling stations under an Electoral Area exceed ten(10), an additional Electoral Area may be created. This lack of certainty and exactitude has triggered misunderstandings in the creation of some Electoral Areas. The adoption of the EC’s Electoral Area system cures any such misunderstanding or perceived mischief.]

5. MOTION FIVE Article 6- new provision
mischief.] Amend article 6 of the Constitution to provide for an Electoral Area Executive Committee structure made up of five (5) members who shall all be elected comprising the Electoral Area Chairperson, Secretary,Organiser, Communications Officer and Electoral Affairs Officer.

[The current system requires limited expansion to allow for increased participation and support in the management of the electoral areas. A 5- member Committee enhances operational capacity and ensures a more inclusive and structured approach to supervising polling station activities.]

6. MOTION SIX
Article 6(1)
Amend article 6(1) of the Constitution to increase the Polling Station Executives from five (5) to seven (7) who are all to be elected compromising the Chairperson, Secretary, Organiser, Women’s Organiser, Youth Organiser, Communications Officer and Electoral Affairs Officer.
[The Committee recommends one man one vote (OMOV) system as a long term electoral framework for the Party. In the absence of the foundational structures for the OMOV electoral system, the proposed limited expansion (representing 40% rise) at the polling station level is more more realistic and manageable. It has the effect of increasing the electoral college considerably while the Party works on’ the recommended OMOV system.]

7. MOTION SEVEN
Articles 6(1); 7(2); 9(1); 10(7)(3)
Amend article 6(1), 7(2), 9(1) & 10(7)(3) of the Constitution to split/decouple the position of Research and Electoral Affairs Officer at the Constituency, Regional and Nationals levels of the Party.
[The amendment brings the needed focus and attention to each of the two responsibilities. Also, it is not every researcher who understands electoral matters and vice versa. Therefore, separating the positions and appointing people with the requisite expertise to occupy the respective positions will inure to the Party’s benefit.]

8. MOTION EIGHT
Article 7(2)
Amend article 7(2) of the Constitution to include the Constituency Research Officer, Electoral Affairs Officer and PWD Coordinator on the Constituency Executive Committee.

[This represents a limited expansion of the Constituency Executive Committee and seeks to promote inclusivity and broader participation in
Party activities at the Constituency level.]

9. MOTION NINE
Articles 7(5); 9(2); 10(7)(3)
Amend articles 7(5), 9(2) & 10(7)(3) of the Constitution to make Communication Officers at all levels of the Party elected from the Polling Station, Electoral Area, Constituency, Regional and at the National level. At the National level, the Communication Officer shall be
the Director of Communications.

[The appointment of Communication Officers has, in many instances, been fraught with a lot of challenges occasioned by perceptions of favouritism and lack of candour. Making the positions elective will afford the Party delegates to select persons they think can best communicate for the Party. For the avoidance of doubt, the Deputy Directors of Communications shall remain appointed.