NPP launches amended constitution to strengthen its structures

The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has made some amendments to its constitution, targeted at eliminating strife and internal crisis.

The acting NPP General Secretary, Mr John Boadu, has explained that the changes were contained in proposals made by members and duly adopted by the party at its congress in December last year.

At a news conference to outdoor the amended constitution last Tuesday, he said conflicting and ambiguous provisions in the document had been clarified.

The changes include the elevation of the Nasara wing to the status of a specialised organ of the party, culminating in the amendment of Articles 14, 15 and 91 of the constitution.

Article 10 has also been amended to expand the membership of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party to include past presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

Voting member

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has been made a “voting member” of the NPP Steering Committee to take part in the party's decision-making process.

The NPP’s external branches have also been added to the NEC and National Council membership, with the amendment of Article eight.

"What conference failed to state is the number of the external branches representatives to be added,” Mr Boadu said, clarifying that the National Council would decide on that.

“On the convening of meetings, Articles 7, 9 and 10 have been amended [so that] in the event that a constituency chairman fails to hold a meeting or delays in holding a meeting, one-third of the membership of the party [could] pass a resolution and the first vice will organise that meeting,” he added.

Major provision

A major provision that had been at the centre of controversy in NPP was the way grievances were addressed.

To that effect, Article four has been changed to strengthen the party’s grievance procedure, the acting general secretary said.

"No member of the regional executive committee shall be a member of the regional disciplinary committee," Mr Boadu stated.

He added that the disciplinary committees shall not spend more than four weeks and shall submit a report to the regional executives for implementation or onward transmission to the constituencies.

Those changes, the NPP said, would strengthen its structures to contribute more to its political fortunes.