NPP external branches to be represented on NEC

The external branches of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) will now have representatives serving on both the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Council.

This was one of the key constitutional amendments adopted at its extraordinary national delegates conference held at the Heroes Park, Baba Yara Sports Stadium, in Kumasi.

About 5,000 delegates from the 275 constituencies, founding members and external branches attended.

Also there were Ministers of State, Members of Parliament (MPs), Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).

The delegates also accepted to make Nasara Club a special organ of the party like the youth and women wings.

Added to this is the inclusion of former flagbearers of the party and their running mates in the NEC.

A total 86 motions were tabled for amendment at the one-item agenda conference.

Earlier, some of the constitutional changes that had generated so much heat and controversy were withdrawn by the proponents.

These included the suggestion that MPs are allowed to appoint constituency officers and barring of people with dual citizenship from holding positions in the party.

Another controversial proposal that stood in the name of Mr. Eugene Boakye Antwi, MP for Subin, asking for MMDCEs, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Chief Executive Officers, Deputy Chief Executive Officers and other government appointees, desirous of contesting for parliamentary seats to resign their post at least one year to the primary election was shelved.

The proponent was nowhere to move the motion and therefore that could not be considered.

The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, had to intervene to calm tension over the rejection of a proposal that sought to allow for the election of the National Deputy General Secretary.

The proponents had argued that this would ensure that the deputy general secretary acted in the absence of the substantive general secretary.

Mr John Boadu, acting General Secretary, announced to the delegates the decision to establish a training institute to help people have better understanding of the party’s ideologies, values, vision and objectives.