The 2009 National Delegates Conference of the New Patriotic Party is currently ongoing at the Pavilion E of the Ghana International Trade Fair Centre. The conference which was suppose to have taken place on the 15th of August had to be postponed because of the re-run of the elections at six polling stations at Akwatia and as well as burial of Doris Seidu, MP of Chereponi.
The conference dubbed the 'R' convention (Reflect, Rebuild and Recapture 2012) is set to consider proposals for amendments of certain aspects of the NPP constitution. 42 motions in all are to be considered by delegates from all 10 regions of the country. All 42 motions will be put to a vote of which two-thirds of delegates must approve off before it can be ratified.' Notable dignitarie
present include the former President of the Republic of Ghana John Agyekum Kufuor, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, former Vice President of Ghana; Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, flagbearer of the party for the 2008 elections; Alan Kyerematen, former presidential aspirant of the NPP and Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, Minority Leader in parliament.
Peter Mac Manu delivered the opening address and called for all members of the party to rally behind the party no matter the outcome of the conference.
Solidarity messages were delivered by the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Conventions People Party (CPP) and Democratic Freedom Party.
The current constitution of the NPP has seen amendments in times past and as such the 2009 delegates' conference is not the first conference that will consider amendments to the constitution of the party.
The first amendment of the constitution was done in 1998. This culminated in the strengthening of grassroot structures of the party in all constituencies in the country. The second amendment of the NPP constitution was in 2006.
The proposal for the expansion of the Electoral College to select Constituency, Regional, National executives and the Presidential Candidate of party for the 2012 general elections will certainly take centre stage and the most debated proposal. The amendment for expansion of the Electoral College in selecting the Presidential candidate seeks to expand the current number of 2.340 delegates to 115,000 delegates.