By Bright Philip Donkor
The Planning Committee Chairman for the National Delegates Conference of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Joseph Osei-Owusu, popularly known as Joe Wise, has announced that a total of 5,675 delegates or more are expected to attend the two-day conference scheduled for Thursday, July 18 and Friday, July 19, 2025, at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium.
Speaking to journalists at a media briefing in the party’s headquarters, Asylum Down, Accra, yesterday, Mr. Osei-Owusu emphasised that all conference activities would take place exclusively at the stadium, with necessary logistical and security arrangements already underway to ensure a smooth and incident-free gathering.
Health protocols
Responding to concerns raised over recent reports of a COVID-19 incident at the University of Ghana, Mr. Osei-Owusu assured the public that the party had taken comprehensive steps to protect attendees.
“We anticipate that issues relating to COVID will come up, and so we have prepared adequately. Our Health Committee has taken all the critical steps necessary to provide guidance to participants so that we do not record any incidents of COVID during the conference,” he said.
He further clarified that despite fears being expressed in some quarters about the venue, the Health Committee was well equipped, and had instituted all precautionary measures, stressing that the event would proceed without any health complications.
Conference focus
Mr. Osei-Owusu disclosed that the primary objective of this year’s delegates conference was to deliberate on proposed amendments to the NPP’s constitution.
“The agenda is to consider amendments proposed by the Constitutional Review Committee. A 300-page document has already been circulated by the General Secretary to all regional and constituency branches. In addition, a 64-page summary has also been made available. However, all of this will be distilled into specific motions upon which delegates will vote,” he explained.
He urged delegates to familiarise themselves with the proposed motions ahead of the event, stressing that decision-making will be strictly limited to those motions during the conference.
Security measures
The Committee Chairman stating that the event was strictly a delegates-only affair, and access to the core conference area—where decisions would be taken—would be restricted exclusively to accredited delegates.
“This is strictly a National Delegates Conference. Only delegates will be permitted into the main conference arena. A few exceptions may be granted by the National Executive Committee, but non-delegates will not be allowed to participate in the core deliberations,” he cautioned.
He also emphasised that the party would not allow the conference to be turned into a platform for presidential aspirants. “We’ve already informed the National Council that no advertising documents, posters, banners, T-shirts, or billboards of any aspirants will be admitted into the stadium. Any breach of these directives will be dealt with immediately by our security team,” he indicated.
According to him, such measures are aimed at maintaining the integrity and focus of the conference as a constitutional decision-making forum and not a campaign event.
Media arrangements
On media participation, Mr. Osei-Owusu announced plans to set up a designated media village at the venue to provide journalists with adequate working space and facilities.
“We’ll ensure you all have sufficient space. We intend to provide a common feed for all media houses to ensure consistency and accuracy in reporting. Any information published contrary to the official feed will be addressed appropriately,” he told journalists.
Further details on media accreditation and coverage logistics, he noted, would be communicated through the Committee’s Secretariat.
Mr. Osei-Owusu reiterated the NPP’s commitment to conducting a peaceful, orderly, and impactful delegates conference that would advance internal democracy within the party.
“We want to assure Ghanaians that this conference will be held with the utmost discipline and seriousness it deserves. It is not a showground for campaigners but a serious constitutional exercise. We are ready,” he added.
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