NPP Primaries: Over 211,000 delegates to vote in 333 centres on January 31
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has reaffirmed its readiness for the presidential primaries scheduled for January 31, 2026, assuring party members and the general public of a credible, transparent, and highly secured electoral process.
A total of 211,849 delegates are expected to cast their votes at 333 polling centres spread across the country’s 276 constituencies. Voting will commence at 7:00 a.m. and close at 2:00 p.m. nationwide.
Chairperson of the NPP Presidential Elections Committee, Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu, disclosed that all logistical, administrative, and security arrangements have been fully completed, adding that the Electoral Commission (EC) will oversee and conduct the entire process.
“Everything that has to be done has been done. The Commission is ready, the police are ready, and all the necessary resources have been provided to ensure a smooth exercise,” he stated at a media briefing in Accra on Tuesday.
Mr Osei-Owusu explained that the party worked closely with the EC in selecting voting centres, noting that each constituency would generally have one polling station. However, constituencies with more than 1,000 delegates were allocated additional voting points within the same locality to ensure efficiency.
This arrangement resulted in a total of 333 polling centres nationwide, including one at the party’s national headquarters in Accra. He further revealed that two proposed voting centres were relocated following joint assessments by the EC and constituency executives, a decision unanimously endorsed by all five presidential aspirants.
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“At every stage, the contestants were fully involved. We shared the details, addressed concerns raised, and resolved issues collectively,” he noted.
On the delegate register, Mr Osei-Owusu said all matters relating to validation, petitions, and corrections were handled transparently, with representatives of all aspirants actively participating throughout the process.
From an initial register of 213,617 names, he said 2,827 deceased members and 653 individuals who had forfeited their party membership were removed, leaving 211,849 eligible delegates.
“Even as we speak, representatives of the aspirants are at our IT centre verifying and endorsing the final register before printing,” he added.
Mr Osei-Owusu further disclosed that the NPP has formally handed over the processes of voting, counting, collation, and declaration of results to the EC. Results will be declared at the polling centres, collated at regional centres, and finally announced at the party’s headquarters in Accra, where the official winner will be presented to the public.
On security arrangements, he said the Ghana Police Service will deploy between 70 and 150 officers at each polling centre, with military support in selected areas, particularly parts of the Upper East Region.
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He issued a stern warning against the use of private security or vigilante groups, stressing that such actions would be dealt with decisively.
“Anyone contemplating the use of private security or ‘macho’ men should desist. The police will act very firmly,” he cautioned.
Mr Osei-Owusu also announced the abolition of proxy voting for the primaries, a move aimed at safeguarding the integrity and credibility of the election.
“This is not an election where we should allow any room for claims that the process was compromised,” he explained.
The five aspirants contesting the January 31 presidential primaries are Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Dr Bryan Acheampong, and Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum.
Expressing confidence in the process, Mr Osei-Owusu said the outcome would be widely accepted by all contenders.
“Everyone will be satisfied that they either won because they were voted for or lost because the delegates voted otherwise,” he concluded.
