The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has declared its full readiness for its highly anticipated presidential primaries scheduled for January 31, 2026, assuring party members and the general public of a credible, transparent and peaceful electoral process that will produce the party’s flagbearer for the 2028 general elections.
The nationwide exercise, which will be conducted by the Electoral Commission (EC), is expected to attract 211,849 accredited delegates voting at 333 polling centres spread across 276 constituencies.
Polls will open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 2:00 p.m. on the day of voting.
Party, EC complete preparations
Chairperson of the NPP Presidential Elections Committee, Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu, told the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Tuesday that all logistical, administrative and security arrangements had been finalised, stressing that there were no outstanding issues ahead of the primaries.
“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,” Mr Osei-Owusu said.
He explained that the party worked closely with the EC to identify and approve all voting centres, noting that each constituency would have at least one polling centre, except in areas where the number of delegates exceeded 1,000, in which case voting would be split into multiple points within the same locality.
This arrangement resulted in a total of 333 polling centres, including one at the NPP national headquarters in Accra, where delegates from the headquarters constituency will vote.
Adjustments approved by aspirants
Mr Osei-Owusu disclosed that two initially proposed voting centres were relocated following joint assessments by the EC and constituency executives, citing security and logistical considerations.
He said the changes were unanimously approved by all five presidential aspirants.
“At every stage, we involved the contestants themselves. We showed them the list, we listened to concerns, and we resolved them together,” he said.
Delegate register cleaned
On the delegate register, Mr Osei-Owusu said the party undertook a rigorous validation exercise to ensure accuracy and credibility, with representatives of all aspirants actively involved throughout the process.
Out of an initial 213,617 names, the party identified 2,827 deceased members and 653 persons who had forfeited their membership, resulting in a final register of 211,849 eligible delegates.
“If you go to our IT centre now, you will find representatives of the contestants verifying everything and endorsing it before final printing,” he said.
EC to conduct voting and collation
Mr Osei-Owusu said the NPP had handed over the entire electoral process — including voting, counting, collation and declaration of results — to the EC to reinforce transparency and public confidence.
Results will be declared at the polling centres immediately after counting, collated at regional centres, and subsequently forwarded to the party headquarters in Accra, where the final results will be formally announced and the winner presented to the public.
Heavy security deployment
On security arrangements, Mr Osei-Owusu said the Ghana Police Service would deploy between 70 and 150 officers per polling centre, with military support in selected flashpoint areas, particularly in parts of the Upper East Region.
He issued a strong warning against the use of private security or so-called “macho men” at voting centres.
“Anybody thinking of bringing private security or ‘macho’ men should think twice. The police will deal with it very, very severely,” he cautioned.
Proxy voting abolished
In a significant reform, the NPP has abolished proxy voting for the presidential primaries to protect the integrity of the process.
“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.
Background: Early presidential congress
The January 31, 2026 primaries mark one of the earliest presidential congresses in the party’s history, reflecting a strategic decision by the NPP to settle its leadership question early and allow sufficient time for party unity, restructuring and nationwide campaigning ahead of the 2028 elections.
Party insiders say the early congress is intended to prevent prolonged internal tensions, give the eventual flagbearer a clear mandate, and enable the party to refocus on governance alternatives and national issues.
The 5 presidential aspirants
Five high-profile party figures are contesting the primaries, each bringing distinct political experience and appeal.
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, former Vice-President of Ghana, enters the race as the most nationally recognised candidate, having served two terms at the centre of economic management and digitalisation reforms.
He is positioning himself as a continuity candidate with experience in governance and international economic diplomacy.
Mr Kwabena Agyei Agyepong
Mr Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, a former General Secretary of the NPP, is campaigning on party organisational strength, grassroots mobilisation and internal reforms, drawing on his long-standing role in rebuilding the party after the 2012 elections.
Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong
Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, a former Member of Parliament for Assin Central, is presenting himself as an anti-corruption crusader and plain-spoken reformer, with strong appeal among sections of the grassroots and urban youth.
Dr Bryan Acheampong
Dr Bryan Acheampong, former Minister of Food and Agriculture and Member of Parliament for Abetifi, is highlighting his technocratic credentials, private sector background and focus on economic transformation, agribusiness and national security.
Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum
Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, former Minister of Education, is campaigning on education reform, human capital development and innovation, drawing from his background in academia and education policy.
Confidence in outcome
Mr Osei-Owusu expressed confidence that the transparent arrangements would ensure acceptance of the results by all contestants.
“Everybody will be satisfied that he won because he was voted for, or he lost because he was voted against,” he said.
The January 31 primaries are widely seen as a defining moment for the NPP as it seeks to regroup, redefine its leadership and chart a clear path toward the 2028 general elections.
