The Office of former President Akufo-Addo has rebuffed media reports claiming attempts by the statesman to make changes to the opposition New Patriotic Party's (NPP) upcoming delegates conference.

In a formal statement released on July 14, the Office denied any involvement in plans to alter the date of the conference.

"The attention of this office has been drawn to two separate publications on Otecfmghana and Ghanaweb, alleging that former President Akufo-Addo sought to overturn the party's decision on early primaries and to postpone the July 19 NPP National Delegates Conference."

"For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state emphatically that these reports are completely false…. (he) has not made any such requests on the party either by a petition or any other means, and he does not have any such intentions,” parts of the statement read.

The perpetrators of such news, according to the former president, “have an agenda of their own, which has nothing to do with improving the fortunes of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The statement revealed that former President Akufo-Addo has been out of the jurisdiction for some time now.

The reports from the media houses cited by the Office of the former president claim that the statesman is lobbying groups and individuals to oppose the proposed amendments during the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Monday.

A pressure group within the NPP, called the Patriotic Movement (PM) claims the former president aims to ensure his preferred candidates emerge victorious to continue to lord his power over the party and sustain his control over the party’s leadership and decision-making processes.

About the conference

The National Delegates Conference is slated for Saturday, July 19, at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium in Accra. The theme for this year is “Rebuilding Together With Our Values,” signaling a push for unity and ideological clarity after the party’s 2024 election loss.

The conference is set to see the party's highest decision-making body (delegates) vote on constitutional amendments and strategic plans. Over 5,675 delegates are expected from all 16 regions.

Campaign materials such as posters, T-shirts, and banners are strictly prohibited to enforce neutrality and maintain peace.

Earlier this month, some final-year students of the University of Ghana, Legon, called for the suspension of the National Annual Delegates Conference at the UG Sports Stadium over concerns that the gathering could escalate the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic following its resurgence.

However, Chairman of the National Planning Committee for the New Patriotic Party's National Annual Delegates Conference, Joseph Osei-Owusu, has assured complete adherence to all COVID-19 protocols at the UG Sports Stadium.

Engaging the media last week, he revealed that security officers will be deployed at hostels, kitchens, and rest areas, with the stadium’s inner perimeter restricted to authorised personnel only. Each of the 16 regions will be assigned a dedicated gate to streamline access and enhance security screening.

The NPP has called on all stakeholders to cooperate fully to ensure a successful and incident-free conference.