The New Patriotic Party USA Branch (NPP-USA) will conduct its 2026 internal elections under its existing Branch Bylaws after the Branch Executive Committee voted decisively to maintain its own electoral framework and defer the National Executive Committee’s revised election guidelines to the July conference for consideration.
At an emergency virtual meeting held on May 27, 2026, members voted 20 to 9, with four abstentions and two non-responses out of 36 members present, in favour of maintaining the NPP-USA Branch Bylaws as last amended on March 7, 2021. The secretariat was directed to communicate the decision to the National Party in Ghana in a manner described as respectful, diplomatic and aimed at preserving institutional harmony. The decisions and resolutions from the vote have since been communicated to the party in an internal memo sighted by GraphicOnline.
The vote centred on a directive issued on April 8, 2026 by NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong, instructing all external branches to align their internal elections with the National Executive Committee’s Revised Guidelines. Members identified four main areas of conflict between the national guidelines and the NPP-USA Bylaws.
On candidate eligibility, the Branch Bylaws require four consecutive years of good standing at both branch and chapter levels to contest a branch level position, while the national guidelines require only two years of being “known and active.” On voter eligibility, the branch requires one year of good standing prior to an election, whereas the national guidelines demand two years “known and active.”
Regarding the mode of election, the Branch Bylaws mandate electronic voting prior to the delegates conference, while the national guidelines allow in-person voting or the official NPP e-voting platform. On the composition of the elections committee, the branch provides for a five-member committee, while the national guidelines stipulate a three-member committee.
During deliberations, members outlined three broad positions. One group argued that the Branch Bylaws are the supreme governing instrument of the branch and cannot be set aside without following the amendment process prescribed in Article 16 of the Bylaws. Another group emphasised respect for the National Party’s authority and the need for measured communication. A third group proposed a hybrid approach, adopting non-conflicting provisions immediately while tabling amendments at the July conference.
The Committee agreed that where bylaws exist and have not been formally amended through the prescribed process, they remain the controlling and legally binding framework for all branch activities, including elections. The Branch Legal Committee was placed on standby to provide a legal opinion if needed.
The resolution states that the branch remains open to considering amendments to promote harmonisation with the national guidelines, but any changes must follow the constitutional process requiring formal notice, circulation to chapters, and approval by at least two-thirds of delegates at a delegates conference.
The meeting also addressed preparations for the 2026 Annual Branch Conference scheduled for July 24-26, 2026 in Massachusetts. The DoubleTree Hotel in Worcester was confirmed as the principal venue, with a negotiated rate of 199 dollars per night inclusive of breakfast. The gathering will be constitutionally a Delegates Conference under the Branch Bylaws.
The secretariat was tasked with drafting and dispatching formal correspondence to the General Secretary in Accra. The Committee also requested that the National Party establish a clear protocol for the timely acknowledgement and response to official correspondence from external branches.
The Massachusetts conference will serve as the constitutional venue for any future Bylaws amendments and the consideration of the National Revised Guidelines for elections.
