The New Patriotic Party (NPP) will hold its much-anticipated National Delegates Conference today, Saturday, July 19, at the University of Ghana Stadium.
More than 5,500 delegates from throughout the country are expected to attend this critical meeting, which tries to set a new route for the party after its crushing defeat in the 2024 general elections.
The conference theme, “Rebuilding Together with Our Values,” calls for introspection and a return to the party’s essential values.
The conference will be centred on the debate of 59 suggested revisions to the NPP’s constitution.
These modifications aim to significantly reorganise the party’s structures, increase grassroots mobilisation, and refine democratic processes, all in an effort to strengthen the party for the 2028 elections.
One of the most important issues on the table is a proposed amendment to increase the number of delegates involved in the election of the party’s presidential candidate, implying a possible revision of the contentious Special Electoral College.
Legal challenge threatens the National Delegates conference.
The NPP National Delegates Conference is dealing with a last-minute legal challenge, which adds to the anxiety.
Two party members, Shamsudeen Iddrisu and Boateng Kwadwo, have filed a plea with the High Court to suspend today’s meeting.
Filed on July 17, with a hearing scheduled for Thursday, July 24, the plaintiffs claim that the party has “flouted its constitution” by failing to organise essential constituency and regional delegates conferences, which they argue are constitutional prerequisites for convening a National Delegates Conference.
They further argue that the party’s National Council (NEC) lacks the authority to disregard these fundamental obligations. According to them, only the National Annual Delegates Conference, the party’s top governing body, has the right to disregard such provisions.
The plaintiffs argue that despite submitting a formal petition to the NEC, their complaints were “ignored.”
This means they’re “praying the court to issue an order for interlocutory injunction restraining the party from organising the Extraordinary Delegates Conference.”
Legally, if the court action is duly served on approved party officials, the conference should not take place.
However, the party’s Director of Communications, Richard Ahiagbah, stated that “no court had served the party with any such notice of an action pending before it.”
This indicates that the side intends to proceed unless formally restrained.
Reforms and Key Agenda
The suggested revisions, which the Chairman of the Delegates Conference Planning Committee, Joseph Osei-Owusu, asserted had been “reduced to resolutions and put in a language easy to understand,” were reportedly given to delegates a month ago for evaluation.
The acceptance and implementation timelines of a significant proposed reform, like abolishing the Special Electoral College, remain uncertain.
Mr. Osei-Owusu stated that constitutional modifications “often took time before the constitution was amended to reflect the changes.” He clarified that if the new constitution is not ready by January 31, 2026, the upcoming presidential primaries will be held under the present one.
Aside from the constitutional reforms, the conference agenda includes:
The National Chairman’s message is anticipated to address the party’s current situation and future direction.
The General Secretary’s report provides an overview of party activity and organisational matters.
Statements of account from the National Treasurer outlining the party’s financial situation.
Strict ban on campaign materials to promote unity
Ahead of the event, the planning committee has imposed a severe prohibition on any campaign materials for potential presidential candidates.
This policy is intended to keep the conference arena from becoming a campaign ground and to promote a level playing field.
To ensure compliance, the party has sent a specialist grounds and operations crew, accompanied by compliance monitors who will police the conference grounds and nearby areas.
