BY Issah Olegor
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has set GH¢50,000 as the nomination fee for the National Chairperson position, as the party officially opens the process for its next National Executive Elections scheduled for October 3, 2026.
The fee makes the National Chairperson position the most expensive among the party’s national executive positions, according to an updated electoral timetable and regulations issued by the NPP’s National Elections Committee on August 11, 2026.
Under the new arrangements, aspirants seeking to lead the party as National Chairperson will have to pay GH¢50,000 for the nomination form. Candidates for the Vice Chairperson positions will pay GH¢30,000, while the General Secretary position attracts GH¢25,000.
Aspirants for the remaining national executive positions will pay GH¢10,000, while candidates seeking positions within the special wings of the party—Nasara, Women and Youth—will pay GH¢8,000.
The announcement comes as the NPP prepares for a major internal leadership contest that will determine the officials responsible for directing the party’s national affairs and organisational activities.
October 3 election date confirmed
The National Elections Committee has fixed October 3, 2026, for the election of the party’s national executives.
The timetable provides that nominations will open on August 17 and close on August 22, followed by the filing of nomination forms from August 23 to 27.
Vetting of aspirants is scheduled for August 31 to September 3, with the results to be published on September 5. Candidates who are dissatisfied with the outcome will have September 6 and 7 to file appeals.
The party’s NEC/NC meeting is scheduled for September 10, while the official Notice of Poll is expected on September 14, before delegates go to the polls on October 3.
Nine national positions to be contested
The election will cover nine major positions in the NPP’s national leadership structure.
They are the 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 positions will become the focus of intense internal campaigning as aspirants seek to secure the support of delegates ahead of the October contest.
The election will be conducted by the NPP’s National Elections Committee, with the Electoral Commission of Ghana expected to conduct the poll under the supervision of the committee and in accordance with the Political Parties Act, 2000 (Act 574).
Strict conditions for contestants
The party has imposed several eligibility requirements for anyone seeking a national executive position.
An aspirant must have been a known and active registered member of the NPP for at least two years and must be of good character. The candidate must also be a member in good standing and must have paid membership dues for at least the previous two years.
Other requirements include payment of the prescribed nomination fee and clearance by the National Vetting Committee.
For the National Youth Organiser position, an aspiring candidate must be below 40 years.
The party has also introduced a nationwide endorsement requirement. Nomination forms must be endorsed by at least one member in good standing from each of Ghana’s 16 regions.
The responsibility of demonstrating compliance with all the requirements rests with the aspirant.
Elections Committee barred from contesting
The regulations also seek to address potential conflicts of interest within the body organising the elections.
A member of the National Elections Committee is expressly prohibited from contesting in the National Executive Elections. Where a member decides to contest, the National Executive Committee must appoint a replacement to the Elections Committee.
The committee is chaired by Frederick Opare-Ansah, with Abena Osei Asare serving as Vice Chairperson.
Other members are 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.
Vetting and appeals committees named
The NPP has also constituted a National Vetting Committee to scrutinise the qualifications of aspirants.
The committee is chaired by Cecilia Abena Dapaah, with Papa Owusu-Ankomah, Salifu Saeed, Ambassador Dr Barffour Agyei-Bawuah, Elizabeth Ohene, Osei Prempeh, Joyce Opoku Boateng and Arnold Boateng as members. Evans Nimako is the Secretary.
Aspirants who disagree with a vetting decision can petition the National Appeals Committee.
The Appeals Committee, chaired by Joe Ghartey, is required to determine petitions within 48 hours. A further appeal can be made to the National Executive Committee, whose decision will be final and binding.
Who will elect the new national executives?
The NPP’s National Executive Elections will be determined by an electoral college rather than the entire party membership.
Eligible voters 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 comprise members of the National Council of Elders, the National TESCON Coordinator, TESCON presidents from recognised tertiary institutions, 30 National Patrons elected from among themselves, founding members who signed the party’s registration documents at the Electoral Commission, all NPP Members of Parliament and members of the party’s special organs.
Separate voting arrangements have also been made for the National Women, Youth and Nasara positions.
Every female delegate to the National Delegates Conference, including TESCON Women Commissioners, will be eligible to vote for the National Women Organiser, while every youth delegate, including TESCON presidents from accredited institutions, will be eligible to vote for the National Youth Organiser.
For the National Nasara Organiser position, the electoral college will include current and former national Nasara coordinators and deputies, regional and constituency coordinators and deputies, external branch coordinators and deputies, as well as TESCON Nasara coordinators.
The party requires at least one-third of delegates to be present to constitute a quorum for the National Delegates Conference.
