Delegates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have adopted sweeping reforms, making amendments to the party’s constitution, which proponents say will strengthen the party.
At its extraordinary National Delegates’ Conference, held in Kumasi, delegates approved that external branches will now have representatives serving on both the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Council.
Nasara Club is now special organ The delegates also accepted to make Nasara Club a special organ of the party like the youth and women’s wings. The NPP has also included former flagbearers of the party and their running mates in the NEC.
86 Motions tabled A total of 86 motions were tabled for amendment at the one-item agenda conference.
Controversial proposals rejected Some of the constitutional changes that had generated so much heat and controversy were withdrawn by the proponents.
These included the suggestion that Members of Parliament (MPs) be allowed to appoint constituency officers and barring of people with dual citizenship from holding positions in the party. Another controversial proposal that stood in the name of Eugene Boakye Antwi, MP for Subin, asking for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Chief Executive Officers (CEO), Deputy Chief Executive Officers and other government appointees desirous of contesting for parliamentary seats to resign their post at least one year to the primary election was shelved.
The proponent was nowhere to move the motion, and therefore that could not be considered.
Nana Akufo-Addo’s interventions The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, had to intervene to calm tension over the rejection of a proposal that sought to allow for the election of the National Deputy General Secretary. The proponents had argued that this would ensure that the deputy general secretary acted in the absence of the substantive general secretary.
He also opposed proposal to prevent dual citizens from contesting executive positions, explaining that the action would lead to the collapse of the overseas branches of the NPP should the proposal go through.
“The motion to amend the constitution of the party which will make it impossible for dual citizens to hold party office and contest for election will lead to the collapse of our overseas branches will be withdrawn”, he added.
Nana Akufo-Addo also opposed amendment that would make the presidential candidate the leader of the party.
NPP training institute John Boadu, acting General Secretary, announced to the delegates the decision to establish a training institute to help people have better understanding of the party’s ideologies, values, vision and objectives.
Timetable for their internal elections He announced the timetable for their internal elections, saying election of constituency officers would be held between February 21 and 24, next year. Thereafter would be that of the external branches.
This would be followed by the national delegates’ conference to pick the national officers from June 15-17.
President reiterates job creation agenda Addressing the delegates, President Nana Akufo-Addo said job creation is at the heart of the thinking and everything that his government has been doing.
He underlined their determination to go the extra mile to bring down the high unemployment among the youth, to make their lives meaningful to themselves and the society.
He said significant achievements had been made within the first year of his administration, citing the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy implementation, ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’ initiative and breathing new life into the health insurance scheme, among others.
He indicated that they inherited a troubled economy, and that through ingenuity, creativity and boldness, it had now been restored to the right path.
He said a solid economic foundation to propel sustainable growth had been laid, and added that he was confident things would only get better for the people.
President Akufo-Addo spoke of the need to strengthen the party’s structures to provide strong backing to the implementation of the government’s development agenda.
He expressed his opposition to the proposed amendment of the party’s constitution that sought to make the president its leader. “I totally oppose and reject the idea that the NPP presidential candidate must also be the leader of our party”, he added.
He pointed out that this was not in the interest of the party, and appealed to the delegates to make sure that the status quo was maintained.
The one-day conference had a one-item agenda of adopting proposed changes to the party’s constitution. Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia was among the about 5,000 delegates from all the 275 constituencies and the overseas branches who attended.
Also, there were Ministers of State, Members of Parliament (MPs), and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).
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