The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) yesterday, unveiled the party’s reviewed constitution in Accra.
The NPP, in a bid to strengthen its constitution for better administration of party, held series of delegates’ conferences last year to solicit views from party members.
The party, on 17 December 2017, held an extraordinary delegates’ conference in Kumasi to consider all proposals and deliberate on the amendment of the constitution.
Acting General Secretary of the party, John Boadu, who unveiled the reviewed constitution, said it paves the way for the commencement of internal elections in the party, from 17 January, 2018.
According to him, the amendment process was a huge success and admonished party members to consider the new constitution as they embark on their internal elections.
It would be recalled that in pursuance to the provisions of Article 18 of the party constitution, the party offered an opportunity to members of the party in Ghana and abroad to submit proposals for constitutional amendments through the office of the general secretary.
Lots of proposals were gathered from across the country and beyond.
However, upon receipt of these proposals, a National Delegates’ Conference was held at Cape Coast but could however not adopt these amendment proposals.
Later, an extraordinary delegates’ conference was held in Kumasi to consider all proposals and deliberate on the amendment of the constitution, which eventually gave rise to the reviewed constitution.
The Acting General Secretary of the party, John Boadu, who unveiled the reviewed constitution, indicated that the reviewed Constitution opens the door for the commencement of internal elections in the party, from 17 January, 2018.
He added that, the amendment process was a huge success and urged party members to consider the new constitution as they embark on their internal elections.
He also explained that several Articles in the previous constitution have been amended in various ways, either by new insertions, deletion or alteration whilst some of the provisions were also streamlined and fine-tuned in order to do away with inconsistencies and enhance readability. John Boadu revealed that Article 14 which has now become Article 15 has been amended to make NASARA one of the Special Organs of the Party. Article 7(2), Article 9(1) and Article 10(4) have all been amendment creating avenues for the Deputy Constituency Nasara Coordinator to be appointed likewise the substantive Constituency Nasara Coordinator.
Article s7, 9 and 10 have been amended in respect of constituency, regional and national organization.
Article 8 has also been amended to give the party’s external branches a representation at the National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Council.
John Boadu said: “Article 10 has been amended to include past Presidential Candidates and past Running Mates as members of the National Executive Committee (NEC). Article 10 has been amended to make the President a member of the party’s Steering Committee.”
It has also been indicated in the newly reviewed constitution that the national secretariat of the party shall be headed by the General Secretary with the National Organizer, Director of Finance & Administration, Director of Communications, Director of Campaign Strategy, Director of IT, Director of Research and Elections, Director of External Affairs and the Director of Protocol working as supporting Directors at the party’s national secretariat.
With the coming into force of the reviewed constitution, all is set for the party to hold its internal primaries to elect executive officers to occupy the various positions in the party from the polling station to national level using the provisions in the revised constitution.
According to John Boadu the polling station elections would be held across all the over 29,000 polling stations in the country starting from Wednesday, 17th January 2018 to Sunday, 21st January, 2018.
The polling station elections would be followed with the election of Electoral Area Coordinators from 26th to 29th January, 2018 whilst Chapter Elections for all our External Branches have been scheduled for February 15 to 25, 2018.
Meanwhile, elections of all External Branch Executives would be held from the 18th to 30th of March, 2018.
As part of preparations towards holding the Polling Station and Electoral Area primaries, the party, on January 10, 2018 issued Guidelines that would govern the conduct of the Polling Station and Electoral Area elections.
John Boadu however commended the hardworking delegates of the party for exhibiting significant sense of discernment and maturity in their considerations of the various amendment proposals with recourse to the party’s supreme interest.
“Eventually, we had a very successful conference with far-reaching amendments that would further strengthen the party organization at all levels. Once again, let me use this opportunity to acknowledge the instrumental role played by His Excellency President Nana Akufo-Addo towards the success of the conference. The party is also thankful to His Excellency the Vice President, Ministers of State, MPs, MMDCEs and other government appointees, National/Regional/Constituency executives, our external branches and indeed all the delegates to the conference for the diverse role they played in the attainment of this historic feat for the party,” he said.
The NPP, according to him holds the view that the reviewed constitution would add the needed impetus to the party’s organizational strength at all levels.
According to him, it has been well streamlined and made more effective to directly reflect the exigencies of the moment, adding that “if we are all going to strictly adhere to the provisions of this reviewed constitution, which I’m confident, we would; then I dare say that the NPP shall face no more internal crisis Insha Allah and that, we would continue to remain in government and delivering prosperity to the good people of this country.”
He made a passionate appeal to all the sympathizers and members of the party especially the would-be candidates for the various positions in the upcoming primaries and their supporters to conduct the exercise with the necessary candour for the party to have incidence-free primaries.
By: PROSPER AGBENYEGA