The New Patriotic Party has announced that only state-approved security personnel will be permitted at polling stations during its upcoming presidential primaries on January 31, 2026. The directive forms part of a security plan developed in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service and the Electoral Commission to ensure order and credibility throughout the process.
At a press briefing in Accra on November 6, 2025, the Chairman of the NPP Presidential Election Committee, Joseph Osei-Owusu, confirmed that access to voting zones will be strictly limited to accredited delegates, aspirants, and electoral officials. Party supporters and all other unapproved individuals will be kept outside designated security boundaries.
He explained that the Electoral Commission will take charge of supervising the election, including the printing and distribution of ballot papers and enforcement of operational procedures. According to him, the committee has already completed balloting with the EC to determine the order in which presidential hopefuls will appear on the ballot: Kennedy Agyapong, Dr Bryan Acheampong, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, and Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum.
Osei-Owusu further stated that the verification and validation of the voter album across constituencies and external branches is finished. Minor clerical errors identified during the exercise are currently being rectified and do not affect the credibility of the register. The provisional register will be handed to aspirants on November 13 to allow for checks and feedback before finalization.
He also indicated that party members who have lost their membership rights under Article 3(9)(1) of the NPP Constitution will not be allowed to vote in the primary.
As part of preparations, scheduled engagements with aspirants, the Electoral Commission, security agencies, and the National Council of Elders will include discussions on a peace pact and an agreed roadmap for the election. The committee maintains that it is dedicated to neutrality and expects all stakeholders—including the media—to help protect public trust in the process.
The exercise will determine who becomes the NPP’s presidential candidate for the 2026 national elections.
