ACCRA, Ghana — With the New Patriotic Party (NPP) intensifying its internal reorganisation ahead of the 2028 general election, attention is increasingly turning to the reforms that could reshape how the party makes decisions, manages its structures and reconnects with its grassroots.

The debate comes after the NPP’s 2024 electoral defeat and a series of constitutional and organisational reforms intended to address concerns about internal democracy, coordination and party structures. In 2025, delegates approved 54 of 56 proposed constitutional amendments, while additional changes are now being considered ahead of the party’s October 2026 National Delegates Conference.

The question now is not simply how many reforms the party can introduce, but how effectively those reforms can translate into a more disciplined, inclusive and responsive organisation.

1. Put grassroots membership at the centre

One of the most significant issues confronting the party is how much influence ordinary members should have in selecting candidates.

Current proposals include allowing all card-bearing members in good standing to participate in presidential and parliamentary primaries, following the Supreme Court’s decision concerning voting rights in party primaries.

Expanding participation could fundamentally change the relationship between the party’s leadership and its grassroots.

But wider participation would also require strong membership databases, transparent electoral procedures and effective mechanisms for resolving disputes.

2. Clarify who is responsible for what

Leadership structures are another major area of debate.

Among the proposals circulating ahead of the October conference is an arrangement that would make the presidential candidate the party’s leader during an election cycle rather than the National Chairman. Supporters argue that this could provide a clearer chain of command and reduce competing centres of authority.

Whether delegates ultimately adopt that proposal is a matter for the party’s constitutional process.

Regardless of the outcome, clearly defining the responsibilities of the presidential candidate, National Chairman, General Secretary and other national executives could help minimise overlapping mandates and internal friction.

3. Make the polling station the engine room

The polling station is where national political strategies eventually meet voters.

A proposal before the NPP would formally recognise the polling station as the party’s basic organisational unit, aligning its structure with Electoral Commission boundaries. The proposal is intended to strengthen membership identification, mobilisation and grassroots coordination.

A stronger polling-station structure could also provide the party with better information about local concerns — provided the structures are active throughout the electoral cycle rather than only during campaigns.

4. Stop treating reorganisation as an election-season exercise

The NPP’s current reorganisation has already moved through polling-station, electoral-area, constituency and regional levels, with national elections forming part of the continuing process. Flagbearer Mahamudu Bawumia has described the exercise as preparation for the 2028 election while stressing that considerable work remains.

For the reforms to have lasting impact, however, organisational activity would need to continue between elections.

That means regular constituency meetings, membership engagement, political education, community outreach and mechanisms for gathering feedback from the grassroots.

5. Invest heavily in political education

The NPP’s amended constitution introduced the Patriotic Institute, intended to provide ideological and political training for members, particularly younger cadres.

Such an institution could become an important part of the party’s long-term organisational development if it focuses not only on party history but also on leadership, public policy, communication, ethics and democratic participation.

A political party seeking to rebuild itself needs members who understand both its traditions and the contemporary concerns of voters.

6. Fix communication before the next campaign

Communication has emerged as another area of reform.

The amended constitution contains measures aimed at strengthening communication structures, while additional proposals include deputy communication positions at regional and constituency levels.

The challenge goes beyond producing more press statements.

A modern political communication system requires rapid fact-checking, coordinated messaging, trained spokespersons, effective digital engagement and the ability to communicate policy in language that ordinary citizens understand.

7. Bring former officeholders back into the organisational fold

The NPP’s 2025 reforms expanded participation for former executives, former MPs and former MMDCEs, reflecting an effort to make greater use of institutional experience.

The challenge will be turning that experience into practical value.

Former officeholders can contribute institutional memory, mentorship and technical expertise — but their involvement would need clearly defined roles to avoid creating another layer of competing authority.

8. Build stronger internal mechanisms for reconciliation

Political parties inevitably experience disagreements, particularly during presidential and parliamentary primaries.

The NPP’s own leadership has acknowledged the need for healing and rebuilding trust following internal contests. Bawumia has called on members to move beyond personal grievances and factional divisions as part of the rebuilding process.

A permanent internal reconciliation mechanism could therefore be useful — one capable of addressing disputes before they develop into prolonged factional conflicts.

9. Turn policy development into a permanent operation

Winning an election is not only about organisation; it is also about offering voters credible policy choices.

Bawumia has said the NPP intends to reorganise its policy structures and refine and communicate its alternative policy proposals.

A permanent policy operation could allow the party to develop proposals continuously rather than waiting for an election year.

That would also give the party more time to test policies, consult stakeholders and explain how proposed solutions would affect ordinary households and businesses.

10. Measure reforms by implementation, not headlines

Perhaps the biggest test facing the NPP is implementation.

Constitutional amendments can change structures on paper, but organisational culture changes only when leaders and members consistently follow the new rules.

The party’s latest proposals include stronger internal democracy, clearer responsibilities, grassroots organisation, administrative efficiency and greater inclusiveness.

The effectiveness of those reforms will ultimately depend on whether they are implemented consistently at the national, regional, constituency and polling-station levels.

The Bigger Test

The NPP is undertaking its rebuilding process at a consequential moment. The party has already approved substantial constitutional reforms, and further amendments are being debated ahead of its October 2026 National Delegates Conference.

The reform debate therefore goes beyond individual positions or personalities.

It raises broader questions about internal democracy, grassroots participation, leadership accountability, communication, policy development and organisational discipline.

If the party adopts further reforms, the central test will be whether those changes produce practical improvements in how the NPP operates between now and the 2028 election — rather than simply adding new provisions to its constitution.

For the NPP, the rebuilding process is no longer just about changing rules. It is about determining whether those rules can translate into a functioning political organisation capable of listening, organising and responding effectively to its members and the wider electorate.