Some Constitutional and Legal Committee members and National Executives
Members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), including national, constituency executives as well as supporters yesterday converged at the party’s headquarters to witness the launch of its amended constitution.
Speaking at the launch, the Chairman of NPP’s Constitutional and Legal Committee, Mr. Frank Davies, said the amended constitution is expected to strengthen internal governance as well as promote democratic principles within the party.
According to him, though many proposals were presented, the committee considered the core values of the party, especially the limited expansion of the electoral college, which will enable most members of the NPP to participate in the decision making process of the party.
He said the amended constitution will also serve as a foundation for stronger organisational cohesion.
“But it is so with all other constitutions, it is not everything that will reflect, it is the really core values of our party which definitely matter.
“I can say for myself and in the generality here that a significant landmark in this amended constitution has to do with the progressive limited expansion of the Electoral College. This has been the bane of the party, where most of the party grassroots supporters have been sidelined,” he stated.
Amid the turbulence of the post-election period, a Review Committee, chaired by the former Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye, was set up to travel across the country and gather feedback from party members on the reasons for the 2024 defeat.
After the committee submitted its report, an Amendment Committee, led by Lawyer Frank Davies, was tasked with examining the constitution and proposing reforms to ensure it addresses gaps and remains relevant to both current and future challenges.
General Secretary of the NPP, Justin Frimpong Kodua, for his part, stated that many of the issues which resulted in the party’s defeat in the December 7, 2024 election have been addressed as part of the issues that were considered during the amendment of the constitution.
“In our current constitution, we have expanded our electoral college to make room for former party executives at the constituency, regional, and national levels, and even former Members of Parliament now have voting rights. All these measures are intended to address apathy and encourage broader participation within the party,” he disclosed.
Mr. Kodua said that the government’s inability to communicate effectively its achievements during the elections, which was cited as one of the factors that led to the party’s defeat, has also been addressed through the new reform the party has made in the amended constitution.
He noted, “One of our shortfalls, even from the forefathers of the UGCC, has always been in handling propaganda and misinformation from our opponents. In this new constitutional amendment, we have painstakingly reviewed how our communication has been managed from the time of the UGCC to the present, to ensure better coordination and to prevent opponents from exploiting misinformation against our party.”
Acting Chairman of the NPP, Dankwa Smith Buttey, stated that the evolution of the political landscape requires the structures of the party to reflect the times and equally become useful in the mission of the party.
He said the revised constitutional reform, which is the product of extensive consultation that reflects the voices of members, will not only strengthen the party’s foundation, promote fairness and inclusion, but also position the party for continued success.
Running mate to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in the 2024 election, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, purchased the first copy of the amended constitution for GH¢50,000, while other party executives and members also purchased some copies.
Also present at the launch held at the party’s headquarters at Asylum Down were former Ghana’s Ambassador to the US, Hajia Alima Mahama; former Energy Minister, Mr. Boakye Agyarko; former Member of Parliament for Ablekuma North, Madam Akua Afriyie; former Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare and former Minister for Interior, Henry Quartey.
Others are Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye, former Road Minister, Mr. Amoako Atta, some Members of Parliament, including Minority Chief Whip, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, Deputy Minority Leader, Madam Patricia Appiagyei and several other bigwigs of the party.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah