Bawumia becomes leader of NPP as party amends constitution

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has amended its constitution to make the party’s presidential candidate the leader of the party, a move that effectively makes Dr Mahamudu Bawumia the leader of the opposition party.

The amendment was approved by delegates at the ongoing NPP National Delegates Conference at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi on Saturday, October 3, 2026.

The amendment replaces the previous provision under which the National Chairman served as the leader of the party. The NPP’s 2025 constitution had provided that the National Chairperson would be the Leader of the Party.

Under the newly approved provision, the presidential candidate of the party will serve as its leader. The amendment also provides that when the NPP is in government, the President shall be the leader of the party until a new presidential candidate, or flagbearer, is elected.

The change means Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who was elected the NPP’s presidential candidate for the 2028 general elections in the party’s presidential primary in January 2026, becomes the party’s leader under the amended constitutional arrangement. The Electoral Commission declared Dr Bawumia the winner of the primary after he secured 56.48 percent of the valid votes cast.

The proposal was among a number of constitutional amendments considered by delegates before the commencement of the party’s national executive elections.

During the consideration of the proposal concerning the leadership of the party, Chairman of the NPP Constitution Amendment Committee, Frank Davies, presided over the process.

After the proposal was put to delegates, Mr Davies eventually ruled that the “ayes” had it, despite shouts of opposition from some delegates at the conference.

The amendment follows earlier concerns within the party about the relationship between the National Chairman and the presidential candidate, particularly over who should exercise ultimate political leadership when the party is preparing for a general election.

Ahead of the conference, the NPP had identified the question of who should be recognised as the party’s leader as one of the key constitutional issues requiring amendment. Under the arrangement introduced at the party’s January 2026 conference, the National Chairman was designated the leader of the party at all material times.

The latest amendment therefore shifts the leadership designation from the National Chairman to the presidential candidate, while establishing a separate provision for the President to lead the party when the NPP is in government.

The constitutional change forms part of a set of amendments being considered at the conference. Other proposals include changes to the election of Vice Chairpersons, the appointment of additional Vice Chairpersons, the creation of Deputy Communications Officer positions and the elevation of the IT Officer to an executive position.

The NPP is holding its National Delegates Conference and national executive elections with 7,163 delegates expected to participate. The conference is being conducted in two main stages, with consideration of the constitutional amendments preceding the election of national officers.

Forty-five aspirants are contesting nine national executive positions, including National Chairperson, Vice Chairpersons, General Secretary, National Organiser, National Women’s Organiser, National Youth Organiser, National Nasara Organiser, National Treasurer and National Communications Director.