By Grace Zigah
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) will on Monday, August 17, 2026, open nominations for its National Executive Elections, formally setting in motion the process for the election of a new crop of national officers to lead the party.
The opening of nominations will begin a six-day window that ends on Saturday, August 22, according to the updated electoral timetable issued by the party’s National Elections Committee on August 11, 2026.
The development marks the beginning of what is expected to be a closely watched internal contest, with aspirants seeking to secure the various positions at the national level before delegates go to the polls on October 3, 2026. The timetable is being implemented pursuant to Article 10(2) of the NPP Constitution and other relevant provisions of the party’s amended constitution.
Nine positions open for contest
The nominations will be opened for nine key positions within the NPP’s national leadership structure.
They are National Chairperson, National Vice Chairpersons, General Secretary, National Treasurer, National Organiser, National Women Organiser, National Youth Organiser, National Nasara Organiser and National Communication Director.
The National Chairperson position carries the highest nomination fee of GH¢50,000, while aspirants for the Vice Chairperson positions are required to pay GH¢30,000 and those seeking the General Secretary position will pay GH¢25,000.
Candidates for all other positions will pay GH¢10,000, while aspirants for the special wings—Nasara, Women and Youth—will pay GH¢8,000.
Filing follows immediately
After the nomination window closes on August 22, aspirants will have from August 23 to August 27 to file their nomination forms.
The party has subsequently scheduled the vetting of candidates for August 31 to September 3, with the results expected to be published on September 5.
Candidates or party members who are dissatisfied with decisions arising from the vetting process will have September 6 and 7 to submit appeals. The party’s NEC/NC is scheduled for September 10, while the formal Notice of Poll will be issued on September 14.
The timetable leaves the party with a defined sequence of activities between the opening of nominations and the October 3 election, with the vetting and appeals processes expected to determine the final list of eligible contestants.
Aspirants face strict eligibility rules
The NPP’s electoral regulations require anyone seeking a national executive position to meet several conditions.
An aspirant must be a known and active registered party member for at least two years, be of good character and be a member in good standing. The candidate must also have paid membership dues for at least the preceding two years and paid the prescribed nomination fee.
An aspirant must further be determined by the National Vetting Committee to be qualified to contest for a national office.
For the National Youth Organiser position, the candidate must be below 40 years of age.
In addition, nomination forms must be endorsed by at least one member in good standing from each of the 16 regions. The regulations place the responsibility on each aspirant to satisfy the National Elections Committee that all eligibility requirements have been met.
Party outlines nomination payment procedure
The party says nomination forms will be available from the National Elections Committee or the National Secretariat.
Payment of the prescribed fees will be accepted in cash or by cash cheque at the NPP National Headquarters at Asylum Down. An aspirant will be issued an official receipt after payment, and the receipt must be presented before the appropriate nomination form is issued.
Forms may also be downloaded from the party’s website, but candidates who choose that option must still pay the applicable nomination fee and obtain an official receipt before their completed forms can be accepted for filing.
Vetting committee to scrutinise candidates
The National Vetting Committee, chaired by Cecilia Abena Dapaah, will be responsible for vetting all aspirants.
Its members are Papa Owusu-Ankomah, Salifu Saeed, Ambassador Dr Barffour Agyei-Bawuah, Elizabeth Ohene, Osei Prempeh, Joyce Opoku Boateng and Arnold Boateng, with Evans Nimako serving as Secretary.
The committee may recommend the disqualification of an aspirant if it determines that the individual does not meet the eligibility requirements for election as a national officer.
A candidate who is aggrieved by a vetting decision may petition the National Appeals Committee, chaired by Joe Ghartey. The Appeals Committee is required to determine a petition within 48 hours, with a further appeal available to the National Executive Committee if the petitioner remains dissatisfied. The NEC’s decision will be final and binding.
Electoral Commission to conduct poll
The Electoral Commission of Ghana will conduct the NPP National Executive Elections under the supervision of the party’s National Elections Committee and in accordance with the Political Parties Act, 2000 (Act 574).
The National Elections Committee is chaired by Frederick Opare-Ansah, with Abena Osei Asare as Vice Chairperson. Other members include Oboshie Sai Coffie, Frank Davies Esq., Anthony Karbo, Salam Ama Mpianimaa Damata, Eric Ntori, the Ashanti Regional Chairman and Evans Nimako, who serves as Secretary.
Electoral college defined
The October election will be determined by an electoral college comprising various levels of the party’s organisational structure.
Those entitled to vote include members of the National Council, National Executive Committee, Regional Executive Committees, Constituency Executive Committees and External Branch Executive Committees.
The electoral college will also include members of the National Council of Elders, National TESCON Coordinator, TESCON Presidents from recognised tertiary institutions, 30 National Patrons elected from among themselves, founding members who are signatories to the party’s registration documents at the Electoral Commission, all NPP Members of Parliament and members of the party’s special organs.
There are separate arrangements for the election of the National Women Organiser, National Youth Organiser and National Nasara Organiser.
