By Francis Kobena Tandoh
Delegates of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Saturday voted to amend the party constitution to expand its electoral college for selecting its 2028 presidential candidate during the National Delegates Conference held at the University of Ghana, Legon.
The NPP National Delegates Conference, under the theme, “Rebuilding together with our values,” brought together some 5,000 delegates who took part in the decision.
The party has revised its rules now to include a much broader group of participants in the presidential primary, going beyond just sitting delegates.
The group of persons who will now take part in the presidential primary includes:
Former Members of Parliament (MPs)
Former parliamentary candidates
Former Metropolitan/Municipal/District Chief Executives (MMDCEs)
Card-bearing former ministers and deputy ministers
Former regional, constituency, and branch executives
Members of the National Council of Elders and Patrons
Regional and constituency patrons and elders
TESCON coordinators
This marks a shift away from the previous “Special Electoral College,” often criticized as elitist and susceptible to manipulation
The move opens participation to retired officials and grassroots mobilizers, aiming to reflect the party’s broader membership and combat vote-buying.
Political analyst Dr. Jalilu Ateku argues that expanding the electorate makes it logistically and financially harder to bribe participants — “how will you bribe everyone?”
It is also seen as a way of strengthening internal democracy. Repealing the special process is framed as a move against an “elitist” system and toward transparency.
The next presidential primary of the NPP is scheduled for January 21, 2026, per current constitutional provisions.
These reforms will likely apply to that primary only if they are ratified well before that date. Otherwise, the existing Electoral College remains active.
Over 50 other constitutional motions were also considered, aiming broadly to decentralize power and boost grassroots engagement.
The NPP’s decision to expand its electoral college is a move to democratize its internal election system, making it more inclusive and less vulnerable to elite capture or bribery. Enditem
Source: Ghana Eye Report
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