The Chairperson of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Presidential Elections Committee, Mr. Joseph Osei-Owusu, has issued a stern warning to individuals contemplating the deployment of private security or ‘macho men’ during the party’s upcoming presidential primaries, stating that the police will handle such actions “very, very severely.”
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Tuesday, Mr. Osei-Owusu emphasized the robust security measures in place for the January 31, 2026, primaries, which will see 211,849 delegates casting votes at 333 polling centres across the country’s 276 constituencies.
“Anybody thinking of bringing private security or ‘macho’ men should think twice. The police will deal with it very, very severely,” he cautioned.
He revealed that the Ghana Police Service will deploy between 70 and 150 officers at each polling centre, with additional military support in selected areas, particularly parts of the Upper East Region.
Mr. Osei-Owusu assured that all logistical, administrative, and security arrangements have been finalized, with the Electoral Commission (EC) overseeing the entire voting exercise. Polls are scheduled to open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 2:00 p.m.
“Everything that has to be done is done. The Commission is ready, the police are ready, and everything they need to be able to do their work has been provided,” he stated.
The chairperson explained that voting centres were selected in collaboration with the EC, with each constituency generally having one centre, except where delegate numbers exceed 1,000, prompting additional points in the same locality. Two proposed centres were relocated following joint assessments, a move unanimously approved by the five presidential aspirants.
On the delegate register, Mr. Osei-Owusu noted that validation processes were conducted transparently, involving aspirants’ representatives. From an initial 213,617 names, 2,827 deceased members and 653 who forfeited membership were removed, leaving 211,849 eligible voters.
“If you go to our IT centre now, you will find representatives of the contestants verifying everything and endorsing it before final printing,” he added.
The NPP has handed over voting, counting, collation, and declaration to the EC, with results to be announced at polling centres, collated regionally, and finally declared at the party’s headquarters in Accra, where the winner will be presented publicly.
In a bid to enhance integrity, proxy voting has been abolished for these primaries.
“We felt that this is not an election in which we should allow anybody the basis to claim that the process was tainted,” Mr. Osei-Owusu explained.
The aspirants contesting are Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Dr. Bryan Acheampong, and Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum.
Expressing confidence in the process, the chairperson said, “Everybody will be satisfied that he won because he was voted for, or he lost because he was voted against.”