The Chief of Staff of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s campaign team, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has cautioned that the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) current leadership structure could deepen internal divisions if the party fails to clarify its constitutional provisions on leadership.

His comments come as the NPP prepares to consider a number of constitutional amendments ahead of its National Delegates Conference scheduled for September 19, 2026.

Speaking on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News, the former Majority Leader said the party’s existing arrangement, which places leadership responsibilities around the National Chairman whether the NPP is in government or opposition, could create challenges when the chairman and the party’s presidential candidate come from different camps.

“We’ve had situations where the person who became the chairman may not have had the person who eventually became the presidential candidate as his candidate. So if you have such a situation, it’s a recipe for confusion and conflict in the party,” he said.

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said there are varying views within the party on whether the constitution should formally recognise the presidential candidate as the party’s leader or maintain the current practice where the position remains undefined.

“We leave it as it had been without naming whoever, but the generality of the people recognise that the presidential candidate is effectively the leader of the party de facto. Or do we formalise it? I think the party will have to think through what is the most appropriate,” he added.

He disclosed that the leadership question is among several proposed constitutional amendments expected to be discussed at the September delegates’ conference, which will also see the election of new national executives.

The former Speaker of Parliament also revealed that the party is considering reforms to strengthen its grassroots structures by expanding the responsibilities of polling station executives.

Under the proposed changes, polling station executives would be required to promote the party’s political, social, and economic programmes through house-to-house campaigns, register new members, and submit reports to improve the party’s membership tracking at the grassroots level.

He said the reforms are aimed at deepening the NPP’s organisational structure and improving its effectiveness.

As part of preparations for the conference, the NPP has invited members to submit proposed constitutional amendments by July 17, 2026, for consideration at the National Delegates Conference on September 19.