Constitution of the
NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)
Ghana
NPP: Development in Freedom
First registered with the Electoral Commission on 24th June 1992 and amended on 29th August 1998
ARTICLE
1. Name of the party
2. Aims and Objectives
3. Membership
4. Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures
5. Structure and Organization
6. Constituency Organization
7. Regional Organization
8. Overseas Branches
9. National Organization
10. Removal of Elected Officers
11. Selection of Parliamentary Candidates
12. Election of the Presidential Candidate
13. The Parliamentary Group
14. Special Organs
15. Council of Elders
16. Associations of Founding Members And Patrons
17. Auditors
18. Rules and Regulations
19. Amendments to the Constitution
20. Transitional Provision
21. Revocation of 1992 Constitution
CONSTITUTION
With faith in God, believing in the supreme dignity of man, in common brotherhood of all Ghanaians wherever they may be and in the right of every Ghanaian citizen to freedom of conscience, association and expression, we the members of the Party assembled in a National Delegates Conference on this 29th Day of AUGUST, 1998 hereby adopt unto ourselves and promulgate this Constitution.
ARTICLE 1
NAME OF THE PARTY
The name of the Party is the New Patriotic Party
ARTICLE 2
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The aims and objectives of the Party are:
1. To foster and actively promote unity among all the peoples of this country regardless of ethnic origin, religion, position, gender, occupation status in society or political affiliation;
2. To bring together like minded citizens of the country so that they may strive for Freedom and Justice by the appreciation and protection of human rights and the Rule of Law through the practice of true democracy;
3. To build in this country a free and democratic system of government under which all citizens will be able to contribute to the welfare, peace and prosperity of our nation and keep its people free from dictatorship and oppression;
4. To harness to the full the human and natural resources of the country and ensure development of all Regions and Districts of the country without discrimination;
5. To ensure that the wealth of the country is not monopolized by a section
or particular area of the country but is fairly shared and enjoyed by all; in
particular, to bridge the present wide gap between the urban and rural
communities and also improve conditions in depressed urban areas of the country;
6. To reduce the excessive centralization which has characterized Government up to now and ensure as far as practicable that the regions and districts of this country fully participate in deciding matters effecting their development and their well being.
7. To promote the well balanced development of agriculture and industry, making the best use of the resources of each area of the country;
8. To protect the environment from degradation and repair the damage done to the environment by wasteful and improper exploitation of our land, forest, marine, and fresh water resources;
9. To ensure that there are equal opportunities for all citizens without discrimination on any grounds whether of gender, age, position, politics, religion or status;
10. To manage the economy of the country with efficiency and prudence, guided by the consideration of the national interest;
11. To promote a vibrant, free-market economy and encourage vigorous participation by citizens in economic activities;
12. To create a climate in which private enterprise will thrive, and citizens and foreigners alike may invest without fear and without unnecessary bureaucratic restrictions and impediments, in order to create wealth and prosperity for the citizens and people of this country;
13.
To provide a good system of education, both public and private, at all levels which responds to the developmental needs of the country as well as the need for qualitative education;
14. To solve the grave problem of massive unemployment and to provide for all, who are capable, the opportunity and means of earning a living, either byway of self-employment or as employees in various undertakings;
15. To give priority attention to the health needs of the nation in order to establish and maintain a decent, humane, efficient system of public health which is easily accessible to the broad masses of the people.
16. To foster and maintain freedom of the media, and open dissemination and interchange of ideas, subject only to the laws of libel and the legitimate claims for national security;
17. To give equal opportunities to women and ensure that all forms of
discrimination against women end, so that they can contribute rnore effectively to the development of the nation;
18. To pursue responsible population policies; ;
19. To maintain, in the interest of national unity, harmonious relations with all other political parties, notwithstanding any differences in ideologies;
20. To respect, obey and protect the Constitution and laws of the Republic;
21. To ensure and protect the integrity of the Republic;
22. To respect, preserve and promote the traditional cultures and institutions of this country, particularly Chieftaincy;
23. To ensure that the country maintains friendly relations with all countries which respect our sovereignty and integrity as a nation, and supports measures that strengthen the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU), the Commonwealth and the United Nations (UN), in pursuit of development, peace, freedom and just international order;
24. To ensure that the Charter of the AU and Treaty of ECOWAS conform to democratic principles and maintain respect for the Rule of Law in Africa;
25. To develop and maintain close fraternal relations with all political parties in West Africa, and the rest of Africa, which share the liberal democratic ideals of the Party, with the view to the establishment of regional and continental associations of like minded democratic parties to promote and defend the ideals of Democracy and the Rule of Law in Africa.
ARTICLES 3
A. MEMBERSHIP:
1. Membership of the Party shall be open to all citizens of voting age without regard to gender, ethnic origin, religious affiliation or status.
2. Any citizens may join the Party by declaration in prescribed form of his or her intension to become a member and to abide by this Constitution.
3. Any person who desires to become a member of the Party may enrol for membership in any parliamentary constituency where the person resides or hails from, or in an overseas branch.
4. Every person shall, upon being enrolled, be issued with a membership card bearing the person's name, address, constituency or overseas branch in which the person has been enrolled.
5. There shall be three categories of membership:,
a) Founding Members
b) Patrons
c) Members
a) Founding Members are those persons who took part in bringing the Party into being and paid the prescribed fee.
b) Patrons are Members who undertake to contribute to the national fund of the Party for the support of the Party's organization such extra levies as the Party may impose from time to time.
c) Levies paid by Founding Members and Patrons shall be in addition to whatever membership dues they may pay in the constituency in which they are registered as Members.
6. A Patron who persistently fails to pay the levies duly imposed may cease to be such by having his or her name struck off the register of Patrons, provided, however, that any such Member whose name is struck off the register for this reason shall have his or her name reinstated upon payment of all outstanding levies.
7. Persons who are neither Founding Members nor Patrons shall be described as Members.
B. Donations And Subcriptions
C. Rights of a Member
A Member shall have the right to:
i. Participate in all activities of the Party, subject to rules and regulations governing such activities;
ii. Be heard whenever his or her activities and conduct are in question and under consideration by the Party;
iii. Contest for any position or office within the Party, in accordance with rules and regulations governing elections. A member shall be disqualified from holding any office or contesting any election in the Party ifheorshe:
a) Has been convicted and/or sentenced by a court. of competent jurisdiction in respect of any offence involving high treason, or an offence involving the security of the State, dishonesty, fraud or moral turpitude unless a period of ten years has elapsed after the serving of the sentence, he or she has been granted a full pardon;
b) Suffers from mental disability;
c) Is not of good standing. A member shall be of good standing where he or she has paid in full and up to date all dues or levies he or she is liable to pay as a Member, and has discharged all his or her dqties as a Member.
D. Duties Of A Member
A member shall
E. Resignation of a Member
1. A Member shall cease to be a member by declaring his or her intention to cease to be a member and forthwith surrendering his or her membership card.
2. Any person who, accordingly, ceases to be a member of the Party shall return to the Party any Party property in his or her custody and shall forfeit any monies, dues or donations made to the'Party.
F. Suspension of a Member
1. A Member may be suspended from membership of the Party, or holding any office in the Party, pending an enquiry into his conduct by a Disciplinary Committee.
2. Any decision to suspend a Member shall not be taken unless the nature of the complaint has been communicated to the Member in writing, and disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against such member:
G. Expulsion of a Member
1. A Member may be expelled.from the Party on grounds of misconduct in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution, and upon such expulsion shall cease to be a Member.
2. Any person who, accordingly, ceases to be a member shall return to the Party any party property in his or her custody and shall forfeit any monies, dues or donations made to the Party.
3. No Member shall be expelled unless such expulsion is effected in accordance with the provisions of Article 4 of this Constitution.
H. Forfeiture of membership ,
A Member who joins or declares his or her adherence to another political party automatically forfeits his or her membership of the Party.
I. Register of members
There shall be kept in the office of the Party in each Constituency a register of Members. The National Secretariat shall keep a register of all Founding Members and Patrons, and the Regional Secretariat shall keep a register of Founding Members and Patrons in its Region.
ARTICLE 4
DISCIPLINARY AND GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES
A. Discipline
1. Appointment of Disciplinary Committees
a) Each constituency shall have a Constituency Disciplinary Committee which shall be appointed by the Constituency Executive Committee. It shall comprise not less than three (3) and not more than five (5) members provided, however, that where the Constituency Disciplinary Committee consists of three (3) members at least one (1) shall be a woman and where there are five (5) members at least two (2) shall be women. None of the members of the Constituency Disciplinary Committee shall be Constituency Officers.
b. Each Region shall have a Regional Disciplinary Committee which shall be appointed by the Regional Executive Committee. It shall comprise not less than three (3) and not more than five (5) members provided, however, that where the Regional Disciplinary Committee consists of three (3) members at least one (1) shall be a woman and where there are five (5) members at least two (2) shall be women. None of the members of Regional Disciplinary Committee shall be Regional Officers.
c. There shall be a National Disciplinary Committee, which shall be one of the Standing Committees of the National Council and shall be composed as follows.
i: One (1) person appointed by the National Executive Committee ii. One (1) representative of the Parliamentary Group iii. One (1 )representative of the National Council of Elders iv. One (1) representative of the Constitutional Committee v. One (1) representative of the Legal Committee vi. One (1) representative of the Regional Chairpersons vii. Three (3) persons appointed by the National Chairperson in consultation with the National Executive Committee, one of whom shall be designated Chairperson of the National Disciplinary Committee, provided, however, that at least two (2) out of nine (9) members shall be women. At least five (5) members of the committee, including the Chairperson, shall be present to constitute a valid meeting of the Committee.
2. Term
The term of members of a Disciplinary Committee shall be three (3) years, but they may be reappointed.
3. Jurisdiction
a. The Constituency Disciplinary Committee shall have jurisdiction in all matters affecting discipline within the constituency organization.
b. The Regional Disciplinary Committee shall have jurisdiction in all matters affecting discipline at the regional level, involving Regional Officers and figures of the Party, and shall have jurisdiction to hear appeals from recommendations of the Constituency Executive Committee.
c. The National Disciplinary Committee shall have jurisdiction in all matters affecting discipline at the national Level,^involving National Officers and figures of the Party, and shall have jurisdiction to hear appeals from decisions of the Regional Executive Committee.
4. Functions :
a. A Disciplinary Committee shall:
i. Investigate complaints concerning the misconduct of a Member;
ii. Make a full, faithful and impartial inquiry into any complaint referred to it;
iii. Report in writing the results of the inquiry and the reasons leading to the conclusions reached;
Iv. Make recommendations to the Executive Committee based on the results of the inquiry.
b. The Executive Committee shall, within fourteen (14) days of receipt of the recommendation of a Disciplinary Committee, adopt, modify or reject same and shall communicate its recommendation and the reasons
leading thereto in writing to all affected parties.
C. The Executive Committee shall make any recommendation it deems fit to
promote discipline within the Party, including the suspension and or
expulsion of the Member. The recommendation automatically comes into
full force and effect where no appeal is lodged against it in accordance
with the provisions of this Constitution.
5. Proceedings
a. Disciplinary proceeding may be initiated by a complaint in writing, delivered to the Disciplinary Committee, in so far as the complaint relates to the affairs of the Party.
b. Proceeding of a Disciplinary Committee shall be held in camera and shall be conducted in accordance with the Rules of Natural Justice.
c. A Disciplinary Committee shall, within twenty- one (21) days of the receipt of a complaint, conclude its deliberations on the matter, and make its recommendation thereon to the Executive Committee, except that the period of twenty-one (21) days may, in appropriate circumstances, be extended by the Executive Committee.
d. The determination of any question or matter before a Disciplinary Committee shall be in accordance with the opinion of the majority of the members of the Committee.
e. A Disciplinary Committee shall not be subject to the direction or control of any person in the performance of its function.
6. Appeals
i. A Member aggrieved by, or dissatisfied with, a recommendation of the Constituency Executive Committee may, within fourteen (14) days of the receipt of the notice of the recommendation, appeal against the recommendation to the Regional Disciplinary Committee by filing an appeal in writing with the Regional Secretary. The Regional Committee shall conclude its deliberations on the appeal within twenty-one (21) days from the date of receipt of the V" appeal and submit its recommendations on the appeal to the Regional Executive Committee for its decision.
ii. A Member aggrieved by, or dissatisfied with, a decision of the Regional Executive Committee may, within fourteen (14) days of the receipt of the notice of the decision of the Regional Executive Committee, appeal against the decision to the National Disciplinary Committee by filing an appeal in writing with the General Secretary. The National Disciplinary Committee shall conclude its deliberations on the appeal within twenty-one (21) days from the date of receipt of the appeal and submit its recommendation on the appeal to the National Executive Committee for its decision.
iii. A Member aggrieved by or dissatisfied with a decision of the National Executive Committee may, within seven (7) days of the receipt of the notice of the decision, appeal against it to the
National Council by filing an appeal in writing with the General Secretary. The National Council shall conclude its deliberations on
the appeal within fourteen (14) days of receipt of the appeal and its
decision shall be final and binding upon all affected parties. ;
7. Misconduct
a. A complaint shall involve an allegation that any of t^e following acts of misconduct relates to a Member:
i) Violation of the duties of a Member; ,-
ii) Violent, dangerous or intimidatory conduct against another
Member;
iii) Falsification of reports, accounts or expense claims or other
fraudulent conduct;
iv) Willful damage to Party property:
v) Breach of the duty to uphold publicly Party policy;
vi) Creation of discord orfactionalism within the Party; '
vii) Bringing the Party into disrepute or public ridicule;
viii) Defection to another party
b.These acts are not exhaustive or exclusive and acts of a similar nature will be dealt with as provided herein.
8. Grievance
1. A Member who has a grievance against the Party may, in writing, petition the Constituency Executive Committee, Regional Executive Committee or the National Executive Committee, as the case may be, for redress. Agrievance shall involve an allegation of unjust or unfair treatment by the Party against the Member.
2. A Constituency, Regional or National Executive Committee, as the case may be, shall, in conjunction with other party organs, where appropriate,
within twenty one (21) days from the receipt of the petition, investigate the grievance, conclude its deliberations thereon, and notify its decision
to the Member.
3. A member aggrieved by, or dissatisfied with, the decision of the Constituency, Regional or National Executive Committee, as the case may be, may, within seven (7) days from the date of the receipt of the notice of the decision, appeal in the case of the decision by the Constituency Executive Committee, to the Regional Executive Committee or the Regional Council of Elders, in the case of a decision by the Regional Executive Committee, to the National Executive Committee and the National Council of Elders, and in the case of a decision by the National Executive committee, to the National Council of Elders whose decision shall be final. The Regional or National Council of Elders, as the case may be, shall decide the appeal within seven (7) days of its receipt, and communicate its decision thereon to the member.
ARTICLE 5
STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION
1. The Party is a national party and shall accordingly be structured and - operated on that basis.
2. The Party shall be based on Constituency, Regional, Overseas and
National Organizations.
ARTICLE 6
CONSTITUENCY ORGANIZATION
1. There shall be, in every parliamentary constituency of Ghana, a branch of the Party consisting of Members who have enrolled in the Constituency.
The basic unit of organisation of the Constituency shall be the Polling
Station area.
2. Each constituency shall have a Constituency Executive Committee,
which shall consist of:
The Constituency Chairperson
3. With the exception of the Financial Secretary whq,shall be appointed, Constituency Officers shall be elected at a Constituency Annual Delegates Conference, which shall be supervised by a person appointed by the Regional Executive Committee.
4. Election of Constituency Officers shall be by secret ballot, and by a simple majority. They shall hold office for three (3) years, and may seek re-election.
5. The Constituency Officers and sitting Parliamentarian or Parliamentary Candidate shall, within fourteen (14) days of the election, appoint the Financial Secretary where there is none. Thereafter, within seven (7) days, the Constituency Executive Committee shall appoint members of the Constituency Disciplinary Committee and the Constituency Finance Committee.
6. i) There shall be, in every Constituency, a Constituency office
of the Party, which shall be headed by the Constituency Secretary and shall have such other personnel as the Constituency Executive Committee may appoint.
ii) The Constituency Secretary shall report administrative matters to the Constituency Chairperson.
iii) The remuneration, terms and conditions of service of the Constituency Secretary and other personnel of the Constituency office shall be determined by the Constituency Executive Committee.
7. i)
The Constituency Chairperson shall be the executive head
of the Party in the constituency and the convener of meetings of the
Constituency Executive Committee.
ii) The Constituency Chairperson shall be a member of the Regional Executive Committee
iii) In the absence of the Constituency Chairperson the 1s' Constituency Vice Chairperson shall act in his or her place.
8. The Constituency Executive Committee shall meet at least once in every month and shall present quarterly reports on the operations and activities of the Party in the Constituency to the Regional Executive Committee. The presence of at least one-third (1/3) of the members of the Constituency Executive Committee shall be necessary to constitute a quorum of the Committee.
9. The Constituency Executive Committee shall be responsible for overseeing the operation of the Party within the constituency and the implementation of its programmes for promoting social and political awareness and general political education within the constituency, for recruiting members into the Party and for mobilizing support for the party before and during elections.
10. The Constituency Executive Committee may form such committees or sub-committees as it considers necessary or expedient and may co-opt any Member within the constituency into any of such committees.
11. A Constituency Officer shall cease to be such an Officer if:
a) Being summoned,to appear before the Constituency Executive
Committee and being afforded an opportunity to explain himself or herself;
b) A report being submitted to the Regional Executive Committee on the conduct of such officer with the recommendation of the Constituency Executive Committee;
c) The Regional Executive Committee considering the report of the Constituency Executive Committee and pronouncing whether such Officer shall cease to be a. Constituency Officer;
d) Having the right to appeal to the National Executive Committee which shall decide the matter and whose decision shall be final.
12. A Constituency Officer who ceases to be such officer by reason of absenteeism shall nevertheless continue to be a Member of the Party and shall be entitled to offer him or herself for re-election to membership of the Constituency Executive Committee a^, any subsequent Constituency Annual Delegates Conference.
13. Any vacancy which may occur for whatever reason in the membership of the Constituency Executive Committee shall be filled in the case of the Constituency Chairperson by the 1st Constituency Vice-Chairperson; in the case of the 1st Constituency Vice Chairperson by the 2nd Constituency Vice Chairperson, and in the case of the 2nd Constituency Vice Chairperson, Constituency Secretary and Constituency Treasurer, by election by the Executive Committee of another officer to hold such office. In the case of any other Constituency Officer, the Constituency Executive Committee shall appoint somebody to act. Any person elected or appointed to fill a vacancy shall vacate his or her Office at the same time as the other Constituency Officers at the end of the term of three (3) years. In the case of the Financial Secretary, the Constituency Executive Committee shall appoint someone to act in his or her place until a substantive appointment is made.
14. In every year, at least four (4) weeks prior to the Regional Annual Delegates Conference, there shall be a Constituency Delegates Conference which shall be attended by the following delegates;
i) Members of the Constituency Executive Committee;
ii) The Chairperson of each Polling Station Executive Committee.
15. The presence of at least one-third (1/3) of the delegates of the
Constituency shall be necessary to constitute a quorum of the Conference.
16. The Constituency Annual Delegates Conference shall:
i) Deliberate on all matters affecting the organization and well being ofthe Party in the Constituency;
ii) Consider and approve a statement of account presented by the Constituency Treasurer,
iii) Consider and approve a programme of activity for the coming year;
iv) Pass resolutions or make recommendations for consideration of theRegional Annual Delegates Conference,
v) Elect one (1) member of the Constituency, who is not a Constituency Officer, together with a Constituency Officer, to be the two (2) delegates of the Constituency to attend the National Annual Delegates Conference;
vi) Elect two (2) Members of the Constituency, who are not Constituency Officers, together with two (2) Constituency Officers, to be the four (4) delegates of the Constituency to attend the Regional Annual Delegates Conference;
vii) Elect Constituency Officers when required.
17. Every Constituency Executive Committee shall, within two (2) weeks from the close of the proceedings of the Constituency Annual Delegates Conference, submit a report thereon to the Regional Executive Committee.
18 Every Constituency Executive Committee shall convene an Extraordinary Constituency Delegates Conference to elect, when required, six (6) Members of the Constituency who are not Constituency Officers, together with four (4) Constituency Officers, to be the ten (10) delegates of the Constituency to attend the National Congress.
19. Every Constituency Executive Committee shall convene an Extraordinary Constituency Delegates Conference to select the Parliamentary Candidates forthe Constituency.
20. When the Constituency Executive Committee or the Constituency Chairperson or one third (1/3) of the Polling Station Executive
Committees, as the case may be, thinks it necessary, an Emergency Constituency Delegates Conference may be convened. The
Constituency Secretary shall give notice of such a meeting not later than seven (7) days before the date of the Conference, and shall specify the agenda for the conference
ARTICLE 7
Regional Organization
1. Each Region shall have a Regional Executive Committed which shall
consist of: '' : :
i) The Regional Chairperson ii) The 1st Regional Vice Chairperson iii) The 2nd Regional Vice Chairperson iv) The Regional Secretary
v) The Regional Assistant Secretary
vi) The Regional Treasurer
vii) The Regional Organizer
viii) The Regional Women Organizer
ix) Regional Youth Organizer
x) Constituency Chairpersons
xi) Arepresentative of the Regional Council of Elders
xii) Sitting Parliamentarians or Parliamentary Candidates from the
Region, who shall, however, have no right to vote.
2. Regional Officers shall be elected at a Regional Annual Delegates Conference, which shall be supervised by a person appointed by the National Executive Committee.
3. Election of Regional Officers shall be by secret ballot, and by a simple majority. They shall hold office for three (3) years, and may seek re-election.
4. Within seven (7) days of the election, the Regional Executive Committee shall appoint members of the Regional Disciplinary Committee and the Regional Finance Committee.
5. i) There shall, be in every Region, a Regional Office of the Party, which shall be headed by the Regional Secretary and shall have such other personnel as the Regional Executive Committee may appoint
ii.) The Regional Secretary shall be responsible for:
a) Keeping proper records of the Party;
b) Carrying out the decisions of the Regional Executive Committee;
c) Supervising and coordinating the operations of the Constituency Offices within the Region.
ii) The Regional Secretary shall report administrative matters to the Regional Chairperson
Iv) The remuneration, terms and conditions of service of the Regional Secretary and other personnel of the Regional Secretariat shall be determined by the Regional Executive Committee.
6. i) The Regional Chairperson shall be the executive head of the Party in his or her Region and the convener of meetings of the Regional Executive Committee and the 1st Regional Delegates Conference, and shall preside oversuch meetings.
ii) The Regional Chairperson shall be a member of the National Executive Committee.
iii) In the absence of the Regional Chairperson the 1s1 Regional Vice-Chairperson shall act in his or her place.
7. The Regional Executive Committee shall meet, at least, once in every three (3) months and shall present quarterly reports on the operations and activities of the Party in the Region to the National Executive Committee. The presence of at least one- third (1/3) of the members of the Regional Executive Committee shall be necessary to constitute a quorum of the Committee.
8. The Regional Executive Committee shall be responsible for coordinating the operations and activities of the Party in the Region, for ensuring that Party Policies and programmes are implemented in the Region, for fostering cooperation between the various constituency organizations of the Party within the Region and for drawing up suitable regional programmes of activity for this purpose.
9. The Regional Executive Committee may form such committees or sub-committees as it considers necessary or expedient and may co-opt any Member in the Region to any of such committees.
10. A Regional Officer shall cease to be such an officer if:
i) He or she resigns;
ii) He or she is removed in accordance with the procedure of removal of officers;
iii) By reason of bodily or mental infirmity, is incapable of carrying out his or her responsibilities as a Regional Officer;
iv) He or she is expelled from the Party;
v) Without just cause, he or she absents himself or herself persistently from meetings of the Regional Executive Committee of which he or she is given notice, provided that no Regional Officer shall cease to bean Officerfor this reason without:
a.Being summoned to appear before the Regional Executive Committee and being afforded an opportunity to explain himself or herself;
b.A report being submitted to the National Executive Committee on the conduct of such Officer with the recommendation of the Regional Executive Committee;
c.The National Executive Committee considering the report of the Regional Executive Committee and pronouncing whether such officer shall cease to be a Regional Officer. The decision of the National Executive Committee shall be final.
11. A Regional Officer who ceases to be such officer by reason of absenteeism shall, nevertheless, continue to be a member of the Party and shall be entitled to offer himself or herself for re-election to membership of the Regional Executive Committee at any subsequent Regional Annual Delegates Conference.
12. Any vacancy which may occur for whatever reason in the membership of the Regional Executive Committee shall be filled, in the case of the Regional Chairperson by the 1st Regional Vice Chairperson; in the case of the 1s' Regional Vice Chairperson, by the 2nd Regional Vice Chairperson; and in the case of the Regional Secretary and Regional Treasurer, by election of the Regional Executive Committee of another officer to hold such office. In the case of any other officer, the Regional Executive Committee shall appoint someone to act. Any person elected or appointed to fill a vacancy shall vacate his or her office at the same time as the other Regional Officers at the end of term of three (3) years.
13. In every year, at least four (4) weeks prior to the National Annual Delegates Conference, there shall be a Regional Delegates Conference which shall be attended by the following delegates;
i) Members of the Regional Executive Committee
ii) Four (4) delegates from each of the constituencies within the Region
iii) The regional representatives on the National Council
iv) Two (2) representatives of the Founding Members in the Region;
v) Two (2) representatives of the Patrons in the Region;
vi) Two (2) representatives of the Region's Council of Elders
14. The Presence of at the least one-third (1/3) of the delegates of the Regional Delegates Conference shall be necessary to constitute a quorum of the Conference.
15. The Regional Annual Delegate Conference shall:
i) Deliberate on all matters affecting the organization and well being of the Party in the Region;
ii) Consider and approve a statement of accounts presented by the Regional Treasurer;
iv) Pass any resolution or make any recommendations for consideration by the National Annual Delegates Conference;
v) Elect representatives to serve on the National Council so that fifty percent (50%) of the regional representatives to the National Council shall be Regional Officers and fifty percent (50%) shall not be such officers. Each Region shall have such number of representatives as determined by the number of constituencies in the Region so that every five (5) constituencies in a Region shall have one representative on the National Council:
vi) Elect Regional Officers when required.
16. Every Regional Executive Committee shall, within two (2) weeks from the close of the proceedings of the Regional Annual Delegates Conference, submit a report thereon to the National Executive Committee.
17. A representative of the Regional Chairperson shall be a member of the National Disciplinary Committee.
18. Wheneverthe Regional Executive Committee orthe Regional
Chairperson or one third (1/3) of the Constituency Executive Committee in the Region, as the case may be, thinks it necessary, an Emergency Regional Delegates Conference may be called. The Regional Secretary shall give notice of such meeting not later than seven (7) days before the date of the Conference, and shall specify the agenda for the Conference.
ARTICLE 8
Overseas Branches
1. There may be established overseas branches of the Party whose activities shall be governed by the provisions of this Constitution.
2. Each Overseas Branch shall, subject to the approval of the Party, have such officers as it deems necessary.
3. The Rules and Regulations of the branch shall be in c'onformity with the provisions of this Constitution.
4. The disciplinary procedures of the branch shall be in conformity with the provisions of this Constitution.
5. Where the dues paying Members of an overseas branch are of a minimum number of one hundred (100) that branch shall be entitled to send one (1) representative to the National Delegates Conference with voting rights.
ARTICLE 9
National Organization
1. There shall be a national organization of the Party which shall consist of:
i) The National Annual Delegates Conference
ii) The National Congress
lii) The National Council
iv) The National Executive Committee
A. National Annual Delegates Conference
1. There shall be a National Delegates Conference which shall be the supreme governing body of the Party.
2. i) The National Delegates Conference shall meet once every year, at least four (4) weeks after the last of the Regional Annual Delegates Conference
Ii) The National Delegates Conference shall be attended by the following delegates:
a) Members of the National Council ,
b) Two (2) delegates from each constituency
c) One (1) representative of the Founding Members from each Region;
d) One (1) representative of the Patrons from each Region:
e) One (1) representative from each Overseas Branch of the Party which is entitled to send one representative.
iii) The presence of at least one-third (1/3) of the delegates of the National Delegates Conference shall be necessary to constitute a quorum of the Conference.
3. The notice convening a National Annual Delegates Conference shall be given to every Constituency Executive Committee by the General Secretary not later than one (1) month before the date for holding the Conference.
4. The National Annual Delegates Conference shall deliberate and make appropriate resolutions on the following:
i. The National Chairperson'Report:
ii. The National Treasurer's Statement of Accounts;
iii. Any Other matters.
The National Annual Delegates Conference shall also
a. Instruct the General Secretary and the National Treasurer to file the appropriate annual returns to the Electoral Commission;
b. Elect National Officers when required. x
Whenever the National Executive Committee or the National Chairperson thinks it necessary, an Emergency National Delegates Conference may be convened. The General Secretary shall give notice of such meeting not later than seven (7) days before the date for the Conference, and shall specify the agenda for the Conference.
B. The National Congress
There shall be a National Congress which will be responsible for the election of the Presidential Candidate of the Party in accordance with the provisions of Article 12 of this Constitution.
C. The National Council
1. There shall be a National Council which, subject to the decisions of the National Delegates Conference, shall direct the affairs of the Party in between meetings of the National Delegates Conference, and, for this purpose, may give such directives to the National Chairperson as may be considered necessary for the well-being of the Party.
2. The National Council shall consist of:
i) Voting members of the National Executive Committee;
ii) Twenty (20) sitting Parliamentarians chosen by the Party's
Parliamentary Group; iii) Regional representatives; iv) Past National Chairpersons, Presidential Candidates and General
Secretaries.
3. Regional representatives shall serve for a terms of three (3) years, but may seek re-election.
4. The National Council shall meet at least twice a year, provided that no more than seven (7) months shall elapse between the first and second
meetings. The presence of at least one third (1/3) of the members of the National Council shall be necessary to constitute a quorum of the Council.
5. The National Council shall have the following Standing Committees, which shall submit quarterly reports of their activities to the National Executive Committee for consideration and transmission to the National Council.
a) Finance Committee;
b) Constitutional Committee;
c) Organization Committee;
d) Research Committee;
e) Disciplinary Committee;
f) Vetting Committee;
a. Finance Committee
i) The Finance Committee shall consist of the National Treasurer and six (6) other members, who, including the Chairperson, shall be appointed by the National Council on the recommendation of the National Chairperson. The National Treasurer shall be Secretary to the Finance Committee.
ii) It shall be the duty of the Finance Committee to raise the funds necessary to finance the operations of the Party in conformity with applicable laws. It shall report on its activities to the National Chairperson.
iii) The Finance Committee shall, at the beginning of each Financial , Year, approve and submit for decision by the National Executive Committee budgetary estimates prepared by the National Treasurer on the running of the Party.
iv) The Chairperson of the Finance Committee shall be a member of Vetting Committee.
b. Constitutional Committee
i) The Constitutional Committee shall consist of a Chairperson, who should be an eminent jurist, and six (6) other members, all of whom shall be appointed by the National Council.
ii) The Constitutional Committee shall advise the National Council and the National Executive Committee on matters relating to the smooth operation of the Party's Constitution, and shall assist in the resolution of any conflicts that may arise between the various organs of the Party in the implementation of the Party's Constitution.
iii) The Constitutional Committee shall submit to the National Council and the National Executive Committee any proposals it may have for the development and implementation of the Party's Constitution.
iv) The Chairperson of the Constitutional Committee shall be a member of the Vetting Committee, and a representative of the Constitutional Committee shall be a member of the National Disciplinary Committee.
c. The Organization Committee
i) The Organization Committee shall consist of a Chairperson and six (6) other members, all of whom shall be appointed by the National Council.
ii) The Organization Committee shall advise the National Cotihcil and the National Executive Committee on improvements in the operation of the Party Organization
iii) The Chairperson of the Organization Committee shall be a member of the Vetting Committee.
d. Research Committee
The Research Committee shall consist of a Chairperson and such other persons as the National Council may appoint. Its functions will be as determined by the National Council. The Chairperson of the Research Committee shall be a member of the Vetting Committee.
e. The National Disciplinary Committee
i. The National Disciplinary Committee shall have the composition, functions andjurisdiction setdown in Article 4 of this Constitution.
ii) The Chairperson of the National Disciplinary Committee shall be a
f. Vetting Committee
i) The Vetting Committee shall examine and vet the candidature of every aspirant for the Presidential nomination of the Party to ensure : that such person qualifies to contest for the office of President of the Republic.
ii) The Vetting Committee shall consist of:
a. The five (5) Chairpersons of the other Standing Committees of National Council;
b. The Chairperson of the National Council of Elders; and
c. Three (3) other persons appointed by the National Council, one of whom shall be designated Chairperson of the Vetting Committee, provided however that the National Council shall ensure that at least two (2) of out of the nine (9) persons are women.
iii) The Vetting Committee shall disallow the candidature of any aspirant when it finds that such aspirant does not qualify to be a Presidential Candidate. It shall submit such finding in writing to the National Executive Committee, with a copy to the aspirant.
iv) An aspirant who is dissatisfied with such a finding may appeal against it to the National Executive Committee within forty eight (48) hours of receipt of notice of the finding by filing an appeal in writing with the General Secretary. The National Executive Committee shall give its decision within seven (7) days of receipt of the appeal. The decision of the National Executive Committee on the appeal shall be final.
d. The National Executive Committee
1. Subject to such directives as the National Council may issue, the National Executive Committee shall be responsible for directing and overseeing the operations and activities of the Party
2. i) The National Executive Committee shall consist of:
a) The National Chairperson
b) The Presidential Candidate
c) The 1st National Vice-Chairperson
d) The 2nd National Vice-Chairperson
e) The 3rd National Vice Chairperson
f) The General Secretary
g) The National Treasurer
h) The National Organizer
i) The Party's Parliamentary Leader
j) The Chairperson of the National Council of Elders
k) The National Women Organizer
I) The National Youth Organizer
m) Regional Chairpersons ortheir representatives
n) One (1) representative of the Parliamentary Group
o) One (1) representative of the Founding Members
p) One (1) representative of the Patrons.
ii) Chairperson of Sector Committees, past National Chairpersons,
past Presidential Candidates, past General Secretaries, and such
other Members as the National Executive Committee may
determine, shall be entitled to attend meetings of the National
Executive Committee but without the right to vote.
3. National Officers shall be elected at a National Annual Delegates Conference by a simple majority of the votes cast and shall hold office for three (3) years. Nomination of such officers shall be lodged with the General Secretary not later than fourteen (14) days before the holding of the National Annual Delegates Conference. They may seek re-election.
4. The National Executive Committee shall meet at least once in every three (3) months. The presence of at least one-third (1/3) of the members of the National Executive Committee shall be necessary to Constitute a quorum of the Committee.
5. The National Executive Committee may form such Committees, including Sector Committees and Sub-committees as it may consider necessary and expedient, and may co-opt any member into such Committees. Sector Committees may assist the National Executive Committee in defining the Party's Policies on national issues, in monitoring the activities of the various departments of Government and in such other matters as the National Executive Committee may determine.
6. Any vacancy which may occur for whatever reason in the membership of the National Executive Committee shall be filled in the following manner.
In the case of the National Chairperson by the 1sl National Vice Chairperson and the other National Vice-Chairpersons in descending order as the occasion may require; and in the case of the 3rd National Vice-chairperson, the General Secretary and the National Treasurer, by election of the National Executive Committee of another National Officer to hold such office. In the case of the National Women Organizer and the National Youth Organizer, the National Executive Committee shall request the bodies they represent to nominate someone to act in their place while a Regional Chairperson shall be replaced by the Vice Chairperson. Any person elected or appointed to fill a vacancy shall vacate his or her office at the same time as the other National Officesr at the end of the term of three (3) years.
e. The National-Chairperson
i) The National Chairperson shall preside over all meetings of the National Delegates Conference, the National Congress, the National Council, the National Executive Committee and the Steering Committee of the National Executive Committee.
ii) The National Chairperson shall be the convener of all the meetings of the National Delegates Conference, the National Congress, the National Council, the National Executive Committee and the Steering Committee of the National Executive Committee.
iii) In the absence of the National Chairperson the 1st National Vice Chairperson shall act in his or her place.
iv) The National Chairperson shall not be a candidate for the office of Member of Parliament or President of the Republic.
f. The National Vice-Chairperson
i) There shall 'be three (3) National Vice-Chairpersons ranked first, second and third, according to the number of votes received at the election at the National Annual Delegates Conference. The 1s' National Vice Chairperson, being the most senior, shall act for the National Chairperson in his or her absence, and the others in descending order as the occasion may require. The National Vice Chairpersons shall assist the National Chairperson in the running of the Party and shall be assigned such duties as may be prescribed by the National Council, the National Executive Committee, and the National Chairperson.
g. The General Secretary
i. The Party shall have a National Secretariat which shall beheaded by the General Secretary, who shall be a full time employee of the Party.
ii) The National Secretariat shall consist of the General Secretary, the
National Organizer, the Director of Finance, the Director of
Communications, the Director of Campaign Strategy, and such other personnel as the National Executive Committee may appoint.
iii) The remuneration, terms and conditions of service of the General
Secretary and other personnel of the National Secretariat shall be
determined by the National Chairperson with the approval of the
National Executive Committee. ,
iv) The General Secretary shall be responsible for overseeing the operations of the Party's National Secretariat and coordinating the activities and operations of the Party and of all employees of the Party at Constituency, Regional, Overseas and National Levels.
v) The General Secretary shall perform his functions in accordance with the directives of the National Executive Committee and the National Chairperson.
vi) The General Secretary shall, within one (1) month prior to the holding of the National Annual Delegates Conference, submit to the National Executive Committee a report on the state of the Party. Upon approval by the National Executive Committee, the General Secretary shall submit the report to the National Annual Delegates Conference.
vii) The General Secretary shall not be a candidate for the office of Member of Parliament or President of the Republic.
h. The National Treasurer
i) The National Treasurer shall be responsible for handling the national funds of the Party, and shall see to their proper disbursement in accordance with applicable laws.
ii) The National Treasurer shall be responsible to the Finance Committee and shall make a monthly report on the state of the Party's Finances to the Finance Committee.
iii) The National Treasurer shall, prior to the beginning of each financial year, prepare budgetary estimates for the Party's Operations for approval by the Finance Committee, which shall submit them to the National Executive Committeefordecision.
iv) The National Treasurer shall, not less than one (1) month prior to the holding of the National Delegates Conference, submit to the National Executive Committee a report on the state of the party's finances. Upon approval by the National Executive Committee,the National Treasurer shall present the report to the National Delegates Conference.
v) The National Treasurer shall not be candidate for the office of Member of Parliament or President of the Republic.
I. The National Organizer
i. The National Organizer shall be responsible for the management of the organizational work of the Party.
ii. The National Organizer shall be responsible for organizing recruitment drives, establishing contacts at all levels among voters, setting up and maintaining local branches, training of party activitists and, in association with the Director of Communications, train officials to become trainers and organize both inner-party and voter-education exercises.
iii. The National Organizer shall perform his functions in accordance with the directives of the National Executive Committee and the General Secretary.
iv. Once every quarter, the National Organizer shall submit a
comprehensive report of his activities regarding the state of the Party's organization to the General Secretary.
J. Steering Committee Of The National Executive Committee
1. There shall be a Steering Committee of the National Executive Committee, which shall be responsible for overseeing daily management of the Party and shall act on behalf of the Party on urgent matters. The Steering Committee shall report on its activities to the National Executive Committee.
2. TheSteeringCommitteeshallconsistofthefbllbWirig'mierrtberS ? ' '
i) The National Chairperson
ii) The Presidential Candidate
iii) The Party's Parliamentary Leader
iv) The Chairperson of the Council of Elders
v) The General Secretary
vi) The National Treasurer
vii) The National Organizer
viii) The National Women Organizer;
ix) The National Youth Organizer
Five (5) members of the Steering Committee, including the national Chairperson, shall be present at a meeting to Constitute a quorum of the Committee.
ARTICLE10
Removal of Elected Officers
Whenever forty percent (40%) of the delegates that elected a Constituency, Regional, National Officer, as the case may be, give written notice to the Constituency, Regional or National Executive Committee, as the case may be, of their demand for the removal of such an officer, the Constituency, Regional or National Executive Committee, as the case may be, shall, within one (1) week of receipt of the notice, circulate such notice to all delegates and shall, thereafter, within one (1) month, summon an Emergency Delegates Conference to deliberate and decide on the matter. Upon receipt of the notice, the Constituency, Regional or National Executive Committee, as the case may be, may suspend the officer from acting in his or her office pending the holding of the Conference. The notice summoning the Conference shall specify the agenda. Approval for the removal of the Officer shall be by simple majority of the votes cast at the Conference. Refusal by the Conference to approve the removal of the Officer shall, automatically, terminate his or her suspension, if any, from office.
ARTICLE 11
Selection Of Parliamentary Candidates
1. No Member shall be nominated or endorsed as the Party's candidate in any parliamentary election unless the Member has been selected in accordance with the provisions of this Article.
2. Upon decision by the National Executive Committee not later than thirty (30) months prior to the date of the national election, every Constituency Executive Committee shall invite applications from Members for nomination as the Party's Parliamentary Candidate for the Constituency. The notice inviting applications shall be displayed in a conspicuous place in the Party's Constituency office and shall specify the closing date for application, which shall not be more than twenty-nine (29) months prior to the date of the national election. The National Executive Committee may, however, on appropriate occasion, vary these dates.
3. Any Member may, prior to the expiry date of the period set out in Article 11 (2), submit an application for nomination as the Party's Parliamentary Candidate.
4. No Member shall be entitled to apply for nomination as the Party's Parliamentary Candidate for any Constituency unless he or she:
i.) Is a known and active Member of at least two (2) years:
ii.) Is a registered Member and voter in the Constituency which he or she seeks to represent, provided that in appropriate cases the Constituency Executive Commission may dispense with thisrequirement:
iii) Is of good character
iv) Is otherwise of good standing:
v) Has paid the prescribed fee for Parliamentary Candidates by the
deadline set by the National Executive Committee: vi) Qualifies under the electoral laws to be a Parliamentary Candidate
for the Constituency; and vii) Has signed the "Undertaking for Parliamentary Candidates"
5. It shall be the obligation of the Member seeking nomination as the Party's Parliamentary Candidate to satisfy the Constituency Executive Committee, the Regional Executive Committee and the National Executive Committee that the conditions stipulated in Article 11 (4) have been fulfilled, and any application which does not comply with these conditions shall be rejected.
6. An Extraordinary Constituency Delegates Conference shall be convened not later than twenty-six (26) months prior to the date of the national election to elect the Parliamentary Candidate. The procedure described in Article 12 (7) shall be applied with appropriate modification to the election.
ARTICLE 12
a. Election Of The Presidential Candidate
1. The election of the Party's Presidential Candidate shall take place at a National Congress held not later than twenty-four (24) months from the date of the national election. The date and venue for the National Congress shall be decided by the National Council, provided, however, that the National Council may, on appropriate occasion, vary the date.
2. Not later than six (6) months priorto the holding of the NationalCongress, the General Secretary shall give notice inviting applications from members of nomination as the Party's candidate to contest for the office of the President of the Republic. The notice shall be displayed in conspicuous place in the Party's Constituency, Regional and National Offices and shall specify the closing date for application, which shall not be more than five (5) months prior to the holding of the National Congress
3. Any Member may, prior to the expiry of the period set out in Article 12 (2), submit an application for nomination as the Party's Presidential Candidate.
4. No Member shall be entitled to nomination as the Party's Presidential Candidate unless he orshe:
i) Is a known and active Member of at least five (5) years;
ii) Is of good character;
ill) Is otherwise of good standing;
iv) Has paid the prescribed fee for Presidential Aspirants by the
deadline set by the National Executive Committee v) Is found to be qualified to be a Presidential Candidate by the Vetting
Committee.
vi) Has signed the "Undertaking for Presidential Aspirants" and vii) The Member's nomination has been endorsed in writing by at least
one hundred (100) Members in good standing, ten (10) from each
Region.
5. It shall be the obligation of the Member seeking nomination as the Party's Presidential Candidate to satisfy the National Executive Committee that the conditions stipulated in Article 12 (4) have been fulfilled and any application which does not comply with these conditions shall be rejected.
6. The Party's Presidential Candidate shall be elected by the National Congress, which shall comprise the following delegates:
i) Ten (10) delegates from each Constituency; ii) One (1) representative of the Founding Members from each Region; iii) One (1) representative of the Patrons from each Region; iv) One (1) representative of each Overseas Branch of the Party that is ' entitled to send a representative to the National Delegates Conference.
7. i) Where there is only one (1) contestant for nomination as the Party's presidential candidate, the National Congress shall acclaim his nomination as the Party's Presidential Candidate.
ii) Where there is more than one (1) contestant, each delegate will cast his or her vote by secret ballot for one of the contestants.
iii) Where a contestant obtains more than fifty percent (50%) of the votes cast, he or she shall be the Party's Presidential Candidate.
iv) Where, however, no contestant obtains more than 50% of the votes cast, there shall be a run-off between the first two contestants and the contestant with a simple majority shall be the Party's Presidential Candidate.
v) In the event of a tie between the two contestants, the run-off will continue until one contestant obtains a simple majority.
b. Selection Of The Vice Presidential Candidate The Party's Presidential Candidate shall, in consultation with Nattonal Executive Committee, nominate his running mate.
ARTICLE 13
THE PARLIAMENTARY GROUP
1. The Party's Members of Parliament shall form xthe Parliamentary Group, which shall have rules and regulations, not inconsistent with this Constitution, to govern its activities.
2. The election of the Leader, the Deputy Leader, the Chief Whip, and the ; Deputy Chief Whip of the Parliamentary Group shall be done by the National Council.
3. The leadership of the Parliamentary Group shall, in conjunction with the National Executive Committee, appoint the Party's parliamentary spokespersons.
4. The National Council and the National Executive Committee shall, respectively, review each year the performance of the Parliamentary leadership and spokespersons with a view to making appropriate changes where necessary.
5. The Parliamentary Leader, together with one (1) other representative of the Parliamentary Group, shall be members of the National Executive Committee, and one (1) representative of the Parliamentary Group shall be a member of the National Disciplinary Committee. The Parliamentar Leader shall be a member of the Steering Committee of the National Executive Committee and Parliamentary spokespersons shall be members of their respective Sector Committees.
ARTICLE 14
SPECIAL ORGANS OF THE PARTY
1. The following are the special organs of the Party:
a) The National Women's Wing;
b) The National Youths'Wing; and
c) Such other organs as the National Council may determine.
a) The National Women's Wing
The National Women's Wing is a special organ within the Party which promotes the policies and programmes of the Party amongst women. Its responsibilities are to:
i) Recruit Women into the membership of the Party;
ii) Cultivate the support of women for the Party before and during
election,
ii) Raise public awareness on gender and children issues; iv) Promote policies that will realize the full potential of women and
children, v) Oppose vigorously policies and practices that militate against the full
development of women and children; vi) Create a nationwide organization within the Party to cater for the
activities and interests of female Members.
The National Women's Wing shall have rules and regulations to govern its activities, including the elections of its officers, which shall not be inconsistent with this Constitution.
The National Women Organizer shall be a member of the National Executive Committee and of the Steering Committee of the National Executive Committee.
b) The National Youths'Wing
The National Youths' Wing is a special organ within the Party which promotes the policies and programmes of the Party amongst the youth. ("Youth" is a Member who has not attained the age of forty (40) years . Its responsibilities are to:
I) Recruit the youth into membership of the Party;
ii) Cultivate the support of the youth for the Party before and during
elections, iii) Raise public awareness about the problems facing the youth,
including falling educational standards and widespread
unemployment; iv) Promote policies that will realize the full potential of the youth,
including policies to improve the quality of education and to widen
access of the youth to quality education; v) Oppose vigorously policies and practices that militate against the full
development of the youth; vi) Establish branches of the Party in second cycle and tertiary
institutions of learning in all parts of the county; vii) Create a nation-wide organization within the Party to cater for the
activities and interest of young Members.
The National Youths' Wing shall have rules and regulations to govern its activities, including the election of its officers, which shall not be inconsistent with this Constitution.
The National Youth Organiser shall be a member of the National Executive Committee and of the Steering Committee of the National Executive Committee.
2. The National Council may, by a resolution of the Council, expand the categories of special organs as it deems fit.
ARTICLE 15
COUNCILOF ELDERS
1. There shall be a National Council Elders composed of Members who have given of their best and have contributed significantly to the formation, welfare and progress of the Party and its forbears. The members of the National Council of Elders shall elect their own Chairperson and other officers.
2. The National Council of Elders may be called upon from time to time to:
i) Solve disputes and differences among Members;
ii) Give ideas and advice forthe improvement of the Party's activities
iii) Assist in raising funds forthe Party.
3. The National Executive Committee shall approve of nominations of outstanding party elders to the list of the National Council of Elders. The list shall be prepared by the National Chairperson in consultations with the Regional Chairpersons. An Elder is a member who has attained the age of sixtyfive (65) years or more.
4. The Chairperson of the National Council of Elders shall be a member of the National Executive Committee, the Steering Committee of the National Executive Committee and the Vetting Committee, and a representative of the National Council of Elders shall be a member of the National Disciplinary Committee.
5. Each Region shall have a Regional Council of Elders, composed of Members who have made a significant contribution at the Regional or Constituency level to the formation, welfare and progress of the Party and its forbears. The members of the Regional Council of Elders shall elect their own Chairperson and other officers.
6. -The Regional Executive Committees shall approve of nominations of deserving Party elders in the Region or the Constituencies to the list of the Regional Council of Elders, and new entrants shall be decided by the Regional Executive Committee.
7. Two (2) representative of the Regional Council of Elders shall be delegates to the Regional Delegates Conference.
ARTICLES 16
ASSOCIATION OF FOUNDING MEMBERS AND PATRONS
Founding members and Patrons may form their own associations, whose rules and regulations shall not be inconsistent with this Constitution. One (1) representative of the Founding Members from each Region and one (1) representative of the Patrons from each Region shall be delegates to the National Delegates Conference. Two (2) representatives each of the Founding Members and the Patrons shall be delegates to the National Congress. One (1) representative each of the Founding Members and of the Patrons shall be members of the National Executive Committee. ! - >
ARTICLE 17
AUDITORS
1. There shall be appointed by the National Council a firm of auditors to audit the accounts of the Party to be presented at the JMational Annual Delegates Conference. Their term of office shall expire at the end of each National Annual Delegates Conference, but they may be re-appointed for a further period.
ARTICLE 18
RULES AND REGULATIONS TO THIS CONSTITUTION
There may be separate rules and regulations of the Party to supplement the provisions of the Constitution. The rules and regulations may provide the guidelines needed for the Constituency, Regional, Overseas and National organizations and operations of the Party.
ARTICLE 19
AMENDMENTSTOTHECONSTITUTION
Every amendment to this Constitution shall be made at a National Delegates Conference, provided, however, that no amendment shall be made unless:
i) Notice of such amendment has been submitted in writing to the General Secretary not later than two (2) months before the National Delegates Conference;
ii) The General Secretary has circulated the proposed amendment to every Regional and Constituency office at least one (1) month before the National Delegates Conference;
iii) At least two third (2/3) of the delegates at the National Delegates Conference cast their votes in favour of the amendment.
ARTICLE 20
TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
The election of all National Officers that took place at the National Delegates Conference held on 29th August 1998 shall be deemed to have taken place under the provisions of this Constitution and the persons so elected shall be taken to have been duly elected National Officers for the purposes of this Constitution.
ARTICLE21
REVOCATION OF 1992 CONSTITUTION
Upon the coming into force of this Constitution, the Constitution of the Party registered with the National Electoral Commission on 24th June 1992 shall cease to have effect.
DATED THIS 29TH DAY OF AUGUST 1998
PETER ALA ADJETEY - NATIONALCHAIRPERSON
JOSEPH AGYENIM BOATENG - GENERALSECRETARY
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
1. MEMBERSHIP
a. Founding Members
i) The signatories of the documents presented to the Electoral Commission for the registration of the Party
ii) All those who contributed substantially in various ways to the sustenance of the Party between 1992 to 1998.
2. CONSTITUENCY ORGANIZATION
ART.5.2 is amended to read as
a. The Party shall be based on: Polling Station, Constituency, Regional, Overseas and National Organizations.
b. There shall be a Polling Station Executive of five (5) members (Chairman, Secretary, Organizer, Youth Organizer, Women Organizer) whose duties shall be to:
i) Act as polling agents when appropriate.
ii) Be responsible for house-to-house campaigns.
iii) Act as agents during voters' registrations and cleaning of the
voters' register,
iv) And to perform any other function that would be assigned them by
Constitution of the New Patriotic Parly
the Constituency Officers. 3. Election Of Officers At Various Levels Of Organization
(The following were accepted as an addition to the existing constitutional provisions):
a. Polling Station Executive Elections
In Polling Station Executive elections all card-bearing and paid up members in good standing in the polling station area shall vote.
b. Election of Regional Executive Officers have the following delegates
1 All Members of Parliament in the region
c. Delegates for an Annual National Delegates Conference is as follows: ,
1. 5 members from each Constituency i.e. 3 Officers and 2 non officers
2. All Regional Officers
3. All sitting Members of Parliament, provided that no Member of Parliament shall vote twice
4. Constituency Regional Officers
The function of Constituency and Regional Officers is as follows
a. In the running of the Constituencies and Regions, Constituency Officers and Regional Officers shall be responsible for the day-to¬day Administration of the Party in the Constituency and Region respectively.
b. Constituency or Regional Officers shall appoint an Officer from amongst them and not just any person to supervise, Polling station and Constituency elections as in the case of Art 6.3.
5. Steering Committee
a. The membership of the Steering Committee shall include the three National Vice-Chairpersons. When the Party is in power, a representative of the President shall attend Steering Committee meetings.
b. The Steering Committee of the National Executive Committee shall appoint a National Officer who will supervise Regional Officers election but not any person appointed by the National Executive as inART7.2.
6. Selection of Parliamentary Candidates
a. The selection of Parliamentary Candidates shall be advertised for 18 months prior to the date of the national election provided that it shall be advertised for one (1) month in the Constituency.
b. Parliamentary Candidates shall be elected at least twelve (12) months before the national general election. For the avoidance of doubt, the National Executive Committee shall have the power to determine separate dates for elections in constituencies where the Party has sitting Members of Parliament.
c. A member applying for nomination as the Party's Parliamentary Candidate should be a known and active member for at least two (2) years provided that, in appropriate cases, the National Executive Committee, in consultation with the Regional and Constituency Executives, may dispense with this requirement.
d. A member applying for nomination as the Party's Parliamentary Candidate for any Constituency shall be a registered member and voter in the Constituency, which he or she seeks to represent, provided that, in appropriate cases, the National Executive Committee, in consultation with the Regional and Constituency Executives, may dispense with this requirement.
7. Parliamentary Group
The National Council, in consultation with the President, shall do the election of the Leader, the Deputy Leader, the Chief Whip and the Deputy Chief Whip of the Parliamentary Group when the Party is in power.
8. National Executive Committee
a. Membership to include the President when Party is in power, b. Article 9 D;2i(0)(P) are deleted
9. Election of Presidential Candidates
a. When the Party is in government, the election of a Presidential Candidate shall be held not later than 11 months before the national general election.
b. Notice inviting application for members for nomination as the Party's candidate shall be given three (3) months prior to the holding of the National Congress and shall close after two (2) months.
c. Any Minister, National Officer, and District Chief Executive (DEC) who files to contest to become a Presidential Candidate of the Party shall resign his/her position.
10. Overseas Branches
a. The minimum number to qualify as Overseas Branch should be determined by the National Executive Council from time to time.
b. The National Executive Committee shall, in the appropriate cases, allow a number of overseas countries to come together to form one Overseas Branch.
11. Council of Elders
All Constituencies should have Council of Elders consistent with ART. 15.
12. RulesandRegulations
Because of ART. 18, no group or special organ of the Party shall have its own rules and regulations and that all such clauses in the Constitution should be deleted.
13. Association of Founding Members
ART 16 is deleted.
14. Wherever the name OAU appears it is changed to read AU (African Union).
15. Term of Office (Resolution)
Conference accepted that the term of office for all officers from Polling Station, Constituency, Regional, and National Offices, should be four years and that this Constitution be amended to this effect.
In view of this term of office for the current National Officers be extended by one (1)yearfrom August 2004 to August 2005, and that fresh elections should also be held for officers from Polling Station to Regional so that there would be uniform term for all officers within the Party.