As part of the sweeping reforms being embarked on by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to position it in readiness for the 2028 General Elections, the party has adopted 54 constitutional amendments to make its constitution fit for purpose.The amendments aimed at restructuring the party's internal governance as well as strengthening grassroots participation going forward.With the adoption of these amendments, one key reform would be the further expansion of the party's Electoral College to include TESCON leaders, patrons, and the council of elders.Some NPP women supporters jubilating at the conferenceIn addition, it introduces additional executive positions at the polling station and electoral area levels.More than 5,500 delegates from across the country on Saturday gathered in Accra to endorse the changes during a two-day delegates' national conference.The reforms were designed to decentralise decision-making and enhance inclusivity within the party's internal electoral processes.Out of 56 motions presented, delegates, however, decisively rejected two notable constitutional amendment proposals, Motion 17 and Motion 54.Motion 17 sought to amend Article 7(30) of the NPP Constitution to allow Regional Executive Committees to appoint independent supervisors for polling station and electoral area elections, thereby excluding constituency-level officers from that role.Delegates opposed the motion, arguing it risked weakening grassroots participation and oversight.In a similar vein, Motion 54 proposed redefining "youth" within the party as members not above the age of 35, instead of the current 40-year ceiling.In a speech read on his behalf by the former Chief of Staff, Mrs Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo advised the leadership of the party to strengthen the party ahead of future elections by embracing dialogue, mutual understanding, strong commitment, principles, and values.He emphasised that these approaches would be essential for rebuilding relationships and fostering unity, which had always been the party's strength, especially as the party prepared for its internal elections.President Akufo-Addo said the NPP as a party had demonstrated resilience of their rank and file against challenges since 2001."We will remain deeply proud of the progress made at every step, the lives we touched and the hope we inspired, whilst our present situation has been necessitated by circumstances we cannot ignore.
I am optimistic that through dialogue, mutual understanding, strong commitment, principles and values, we can rebuild the bridges and resolve the unity that has always been our strength," he said.He added that the party should put in formidable efforts towards restructuring, rebuilding and reclaiming the rein of governance, and that they should continue to stay firm and united as they prepared their strategy of capturing power.
