Delegates Overrule NPP Chairman to Force Through Massive Constitutional Overhaul

Delegates at the New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Delegates Conference in Kumasi voted decisively to pass 14 major constitutional amendments, dramatically overruling Acting National Chairman Joseph Danquah Smith.

The high-stakes voting took place at the crowded Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Saturday, setting a dramatic tone for the day's agenda before the election of national officers. Mr. Smith had forcefully advocated for postponing the constitutional review process until the party's next official conference, pointing out severe time constraints. He cautioned that delegates needed sufficient time to carefully weigh the far-reaching proposals without being distracted by the ongoing national executive elections.

Despite his warnings, party delegates chose to forge ahead immediately with the review. The Constitution Amendment Committee presented each motion to the floor, resulting in the successful approval of all 14 proposed measures. Among the key changes, delegates voted to reverse a previous clause introduced during the January 31, 2026 conference. That former rule had designated the National Chairman as the ultimate party leader; the freshly approved amendment officially hands supreme leadership back to the party's elected flagbearer.

Additionally, delegates restructured how party leaders gain office. Candidates will now run for specific Vice Chairperson positions rather than competing in a single pool where votes determine the order of First, Second, and Third Vice Chairs. The party also established three appointed Vice Chairperson positions, created Deputy Communications Officer roles, and elevated the IT Officer post to an official executive position.

Frank Davies, Chairman of the NPP Constitution Amendment Committee, emphasized that these swift adjustments were necessary to patch structural flaws ahead of the upcoming 2028 general elections. Over 7,100 delegates across 16 regions participated in the proceedings under Electoral Commission supervision, marking a pivotal restructuring moment for the ruling party.