Delegates to the 2021 National Conference of the New Patriotic Party, NPP could not consider the proposals submitted for consideration for amendment to parts of the Party’s Constitution as anticipated.
Instead, the Conference has authorized the Constitution Review Committee Chaired by Deputy Majority Leader, Afenyo Markins, to review all the proposals and submit its Recommendations to the National Council of the party for consideration for either adoption or rejection.
This follows a motion to that effect moved by Mr. Afenyo Markins and seconded by another member with the Conference approving the Motion through a voice vote put by the National Chairman, Freddie Blay.
Correspondent Nicholas Osei-Wusu reports that the annual National Delegates’ Conference is the highest decision making organ of the ruling New Patriotic Party, NPP.
This year’s event that brought together more 7,000 delegates, government functionaries, observers, media among other interested individuals was on the theme: “NPP; Our Resolve, Our Determination and Commitment to Ghana’s Development”.
The event, held at the Heroes Park at the fore court of the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in the Ashanti regional capital of Kumasi, was in three parts starting with a Church Service.
The second part involved addresses by key party functionaries whose duties were to give specific accounts.
The Leader of the Majority Group in Parliament, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, noted that even though the party has a slim advantage in pushing for government’s business in the house, the situation could have been far better if the internal elections of the party that chose Parliamentary Candidates, the late conduct of the parliamentary primaries, bickering and machinations by some party leaders ahead of the national polls cost the NPP cost the party some of the seats it was holding.
The National Treasurer, Kwabena Abankwah-Yeboah, also gave accounts of the party’s financial position indicating that there has been a marked improvement since 2019 particularly from the Parliamentary Primaries.
There were some donations and grants by well wishers and sympathizers of the party both in Ghana and abroad.
The General Secretary, John Boadu, attributed the victory of the party in the Presidential polls in 2020 to the contribution and diligence of all party members especially those who had direct roles on the day of the elections.
Mr. John Boadu said the government has so far done very well with the introduction of better socio-economic policies despite the Covid -19 pandemic.
The General Secretary disclosed that the party has finished all the necessary preparatory works towards the take off of a party school next year with a former Rector of GIMPA as the foundation Rector.
Then came the time for Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, Afenyo Markin to take over the next section of the Conference. He told the delegates that the Committee received more than 90 proposals for amendment to the party’s Constitution.
These proposals had been compiled into a book and earlier circulated among the delegates. He however moved a Motion that, due to the enormity of the work involved in consideration of the proposals, the Review Committee be authorized to review the proposals and submit their Recommendations to the National Council for adoption or rejection. This Motion was duly seconded following which the National Chairman put it to the Conference. After a Voice Vote, the Conference authorized the Review Committee and National Council to consider the proposals.
Among the proposals was one that sought to allow for the election of a flagbearer two years ahead of the national Presidential polls instead of the present one year.
In all, the Conference was largely successful with no major hitch. Security, first aid, Covid-19 protocols and logistics were readily available at the comfort of the delegates.
There were solidarity messages from the NDC, PNC, CPP, PPP and the Deputy Secretary General of the Congress Party of Malawi.
