The New Patriotic Party’s USA Branch (NPP-USA) has resolved to conduct its 2026 internal elections under its existing Branch Bylaws, rejecting the immediate application of revised election guidelines issued by the party’s national leadership in Ghana.
The decision was reached during an emergency virtual meeting of the Branch Executive Committee (BEC) on May 27, 2026, where members voted overwhelmingly to maintain the branch’s governing rules for the upcoming elections. Out of 36 members present, 20 voted in favour of retaining the Branch Bylaws, nine opposed the move, four abstained, and two did not respond.
Under the resolution, the branch will organise its 2026 elections in accordance with the NPP-USA Bylaws last amended on March 7, 2021. The committee also directed its secretariat to formally communicate the decision to the national party leadership in Ghana through what it described as a respectful and diplomatic process aimed at preserving unity within the party.
The decision follows a directive issued by NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong on April 8, 2026, instructing all external branches to align their internal electoral processes with the National Executive Committee’s Revised Election Guidelines.
However, members of the Branch Executive Committee cited significant inconsistencies between the national guidelines and the branch’s constitutionally adopted bylaws.
Among the key areas of disagreement is candidate eligibility. While the NPP-USA Bylaws require aspirants for branch-level positions to have maintained four consecutive years of good standing at both branch and chapter levels, the national guidelines prescribe a two-year “known and active” requirement.
Differences also emerged regarding voter eligibility. The branch bylaws require members to have been in good standing for at least one year before an election to vote, whereas the national guidelines require two years of being “known and active.”
The mode of voting was another point of contention. Under the branch bylaws, elections must be conducted electronically before the delegates conference. The national guidelines, however, permit either in-person voting or the use of the party’s official electronic voting platform.
The composition of the Elections Committee also differs. The branch constitution mandates a five-member committee, while the revised national guidelines provide for a three-member body.
During deliberations, committee members advanced varying positions on the issue. One group argued that the branch’s bylaws remain the supreme governing authority and cannot be altered outside the amendment procedures outlined in Article 16. Others stressed the importance of respecting the authority of the national party while maintaining institutional harmony. A third group proposed a compromise that would adopt non-conflicting provisions immediately while considering broader amendments at a later date.
Following discussions, the committee agreed that existing bylaws remain binding unless formally amended through established constitutional procedures. The branch also placed its Legal Committee on standby to provide legal interpretation should the need arise.
Despite rejecting the immediate implementation of the revised guidelines, the committee indicated its willingness to consider future amendments aimed at harmonising the branch’s rules with those of the national party. Any such changes, it noted, must follow constitutional requirements, including prior notice, circulation to chapters, and approval by at least two-thirds of delegates.
Meanwhile, preparations are underway for the 2026 NPP-USA Annual Branch Conference scheduled for July 24-26 in Massachusetts. The conference will be held at the DoubleTree Hotel in Worcester and will serve as a Delegates Conference under the branch’s bylaws.
The gathering is expected to provide a constitutional platform for delegates to consider any proposed bylaw amendments and deliberate on the possible adoption of the National Executive Committee’s revised election guidelines.
