'40 is just fine' - NPP's Salam Mustapha rejects age cap amendment

The National Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Salam Mustapha, has strongly opposed a proposed constitutional amendment seeking to redefine the party’s youth age limit from 40 to 35 years.

Speaking to the media at the National Delegates Conference on Saturday, July 19, 2025, Mustapha described the motion as “controversial” and unnecessary, arguing that the current threshold has served the party effectively.

“We’ve been using this system, and it has worked quite well over the years. We don’t see the reason why we should fix something that is not broken,” he said.

The proposal is among several constitutional reforms being debated by over 5,500 delegates gathered for the conference, themed “Rebuilding Together with Our Values.”

Mustapha emphasised that the youth wing is united in its stance and prepared to resist any attempt to lower the age ceiling.

“We are okay with the 40-year threshold that we have right now. We want it left there, and any attempt to push it down further will not be accepted,” he stated.

He added that he had consulted widely and mobilized support from across the party’s youth structures.

“I have rallied my soldiers, and we are ready to take action today. I think there is a strong, unanimous consensus from everything we’ve done so far. As for this one, we will not accept it.”

The age-limit debate is expected to be one of the more heated discussions as the party charts its path toward internal reform and prepares for the 2028 general elections.

SP/MA

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