“Unconstitutional!” — NPP heavyweight rejects shocking decision to make flagbearer party leader

Former Acting National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Danquah Smith Butey, has openly challenged the party’s decision to amend its constitution and make an elected presidential candidate the automatic leader of the party.

Speaking during an interview on Kumasi-based Akoma 87.9 FM on Monday, October 5, Mr. Butey insisted that the constitutional amendment was rushed without proper deliberation and should have been deferred to a future National Delegates Conference.

He maintained that his prior directive as Acting National Chairman to postpone consideration of the amendments remains valid and binding.

Earlier, during the NPP’s National Delegates Conference in Kumasi on Saturday, October 3, Mr. Butey had urged delegates to focus strictly on electing national executives, arguing that severe time constraints prevented thorough consideration of constitutional changes.

Despite his official call for postponement, the amendment process proceeded under the leadership of the Constitution Amendment Committee, chaired by lawyer Frank Davies, leading to delegates eventually adopting the proposals.

Questioning the legitimacy of the process, Mr. Butey argued that his tenure as Acting National Chairman had not expired when the committee proceeded to push the amendments through.

Under the approved changes, an elected presidential candidate automatically assumes leadership of the party. However, when the party is in power, the sitting President remains party leader until a new flagbearer is elected.

The structural shift fundamentally alters the NPP’s long-standing leadership hierarchy, clarifying top political authority depending on whether the party is in government or opposition.

Firmly rejecting the outcome, Mr. Butey insists the controversial amendment must be submitted to a fresh National Delegates Conference for proper review and a decisive vote by delegates.