The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has approved a constitutional amendment increasing the number of National Vice Chairpersons from three to six.
Under the new structure, the party will have three elected and three appointed National Vice Chairpersons. However, the appointed vice chairpersons will not be eligible to succeed the National Chairman.
The amendment was among 14 constitutional changes approved at the NPP’s National Delegates Conference in Kumasi, aimed at strengthening the party’s internal structures, leadership, administration and electoral preparedness.
The move follows the election of the party’s three National Vice Chairpersons at the October 3 conference, where Kojo Fosu Boadu was elected First Vice Chairperson, Henry Nana Boakye Second Vice Chairperson, and Nana Akomea Third Vice Chairperson.
According to the approved amendment, the expansion is intended to “ease the workload of the National Chairman, improve regional mobilisation and promote geographical, ethnic, religious and gender balance in the party’s leadership.”
The party has also changed how the three elected vice chairperson positions will be contested.
The approved amendment states: “Amend Article 10(5) to provide that the offices of First, Second and Third National Vice Chairpersons will be separate elective positions, with each contested independently at the National Delegates Conference.”
It further states, “Candidates will be required to indicate the specific office they intend to contest at the nomination stage.”
The 14 amendments were proposed by the NPP’s Constitutional Amendments Committee and subsequently adopted by delegates through a series of voice votes.
Other changes include additional constituency and regional leadership positions, the inclusion of Regional and Constituency IT Officers on executive committees, and an administrative manual for party officers.
The manual is intended to “promote clarity, consistency and accountability, reduce duplication and conflicts in roles, and provide officers with clear guidance in the discharge of their functions.”
