The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is scheduled to host its National Delegates Conference in Kumasi from today, Saturday, December 18, 2021, to Monday, December 20, 2021.
The conference, which is under the theme “Our resolve, our determination, and commitment to Ghana’s development” is expected to gather over 6,000 delegates who will converge on the Heroes Park at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.
Delegates are expected to discuss a number of issues aimed at helping the NPP win the 2024 general elections.
Proposals for a possible amendment to the party’s constitution are also expected to be discussed at the conference.
Key among the proposals is to elect a presidential candidate two clear years before a major election.
Currently, the party elects a candidate two years before elections if the party is in opposition and a year when the party is in power.
Party members believe the current arrangement makes it difficult for a new candidate to mend bridges and heal the wounds of other aspirants before the election.
In terms of security, some surveillance cameras have been mounted at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) campus where some of the delegates are expected to lodge.
Security personnel have also been dispatched to the conference grounds to ensure maximum security of delegates.
High-profile personalities expected to grace the conference include former President John Agyekum Kufuor, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Vice President; Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, National Chairman of the NPP, Freddie Blay; the General Secretary, Mr John Boadu, members of the National Executive Committee, among others.
Seventeen executives from each constituency will be present at the conference.
Also, ten members of the Regional Council of Elders and patrons, including the regional executive, are expected to participate in the conference.
Delegates are expected to show proof of their Covid-19 vaccination before being allowed entry to the conference grounds.
Per Article 10(2) Sub-section One of the NPP Constitution, there shall be a national annual delegates conference which shall be the supreme governing body of the party.
Per the provisions of the article, the annual delegates conference shall meet once every year to, among others, deliberate and make appropriate resolutions on the National Chairperson’s statement, the General Secretary’s Report, the National Treasurer’s Statement of Accounts, among other provisions.
There will, thus be no elections at the national delegates conference in Kumasi.
The last annual delegates conference was held in Cape Coast in 2020.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah had directed persons aspiring for several leadership positions in the New Patriotic Party to remove their erected billboards within the greater Kumasi area.
The leadership of the party also banned all activities associated with internal party contests, parliamentary and presidential primaries