At the April joint meetings of the National Executive Committee and the National Council he did not speak. He chose to listen to the views from constituency chairman, international branches of the party, leaders like Alan Kyerematen, Arthur Kennedy and Jake Obestebi-Lamptey, who all supported the proposals to expand the party’s electoral college.

But the man who is said to have more to gain by maintaining the status quo, the 2008 presidential candidate of the NPP, has endorsed the constitutional reforms as positive and “intended to strengthen the efficiency of the party’s organisation.”

Speaking exclusively to The Statesman at his Ringway Estate offices Wednesday, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, recalled the party’s enviable tradition of deepening the democratic culture of Ghana and sees the decision to get more than 115,000 people, including all polling station officers of the party, to play a direct role in choosing the party’s leaders, as very much in line with that tradition.

The NPP holds an extraordinary conference at the Trade Fair Centre this Saturday, where the highest decision-making body of the party will vote on a series of reforms. Most of the reforms, such as adding two deputies to the General Secretary and all three organisers (Organiser, Women’s Organiser and Youth Organiser) from the national to the constituency level, are expected to be passed without hassle.

But, the most popular reform proposal is also the most contentious one: the far-reaching expansion of delegates for the presidential nominations.

On Wednesday a group of polling station executives demonstrated at the NPP headquarters, Asylum Down. Similar agitations are taking place across the country to get Saturday’s conference delegates to fully appreciate the grassroots sentiments. Although those forming the anti-expansion camp are in a minority, they are also a powerful minority. They also require just one vote more than one-third of delegates to stop any reform.

Nana Akufo-Addo is deeply concerned about the process of party unity. But, he is calling on all sides to put their points across as compelling as possible and to leave it to the conference delegates to vote.

“Either way, my hope is that all of our party’s committed members and supporters will accept the decision of the conference in good faith, whether or not they supported the decision, and work with it to ensure its success. That is the essence of democracy and, also, the stuff of party unity.”

He is also of the view that there can still be ways of resolving some of the challenges that opponents of the reforms are putting up even if conference votes for the reforms.

A typical example is the fear that holding simultaneous elections of an average of 500 delegates in 230 centres across all constituencies could be difficult to manage during and after the voting. Opponents point out that at a National Congress of, say, 2340 delegates, the centralised nature of the exercise allows greater control of the processes.

But, with the constituency-based national congress across the country, there could be some reported cases in some areas which could even cause the party some image problems, such as fighting or allegations of vote-rigging. In all 115,000 delegates will cast their vote on a given day for the next flagbearer if the reforms are endorsed.

They also argue that this voting and counting at the constituency would get the winning candidate to know which constituencies and regions probably voted against him. This they say could lead to ‘victimisation’ and work against the party’s internal cohesion.

But, if the 2007 contest is anything to go by then Akufo-Addo has shown how possible it is to strive to bring the party together so long as those you fought against are committed party faithful.

It is recalled that Nana Akufo-Addo competed with 16 others at the 2007 National Congress and went across the country immediately after on a unity tour.

He also structured his campaign team to include all the people who contested with. During his campaign he also assured, “once I win I wouldn’t care to find out who voted for me or not because I would need a united party behind me.” This he did. But that did not stop some from feeling left out or reluctant to work.

He believes, however, some of these concerns can be addressed without necessarily derailing the reforms.

The expansion process has raised grassroots expectations to a level that the conference delegates cannot choose to ignore.

Nana Akufo-Addo also acknowledges the broad consensus that took place before the current proposals were put together. “They have come from various sections of the party, from a cross-section at home and abroad, including NPP’s grassroots organisation.” He sees the intention of the reforms as laudable. “It is that a process of greater inclusion will strengthen the Party’s capacity to mobilise the people behind its programme.”

Nana Akufo-Addo has expressed confidence that the NPP will emerge from the Saturday conference “strengthened and re-vitalised for the great struggle that lies before it.” The NPP NEC met on 28th April and continued on 29th April 2009. The National Council then met on the afternoon of 29th April and concluded deliberations on 30th April 2009.

They deliberated on proposals received from the regions, branches and individuals of the party. Members agreed that the NPP Constitution which has been in operation for over sixteen years, eight of which during the period the party was in power, has served the party well. Through the Constitution, since 1992 with the various amendments in 1998 and 2003, the party has been recruiting members, mobilizing voters, building electoral support as well as support for its ideology, candidates and office holders.

It was however agreed that various provisions of the constitution could be modified in order to provide the basis for ensuring a unified party with a very good image, better organized, more disciplined and with effective mechanisms for resolving grievances and choosing its leaders and candidates. These leaders and candidates are from the polling stations to the National level and include Parliamentary and Presidential Candidates.