The Presidential Elections Committee of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has officially handed over the security of Saturday's crucial presidential primary to the Ghana Police Service, issuing a stern warning that no private or unauthorised security arrangements will be tolerated at any polling station.

The directive was contained in a high-level briefing submitted by the Chairman of the Elections Committee, Joseph Osei-Owusu, to the National Executive Committee (NEC) on Friday, January 30, 2026.

The move is designed to ensure a peaceful environment for the election of a flagbearer to lead the party in the 2028 general elections.

Exclusive Police Jurisdiction

In a move to prevent the militarisation of polling centres and avoid institutional friction, the Committee clarified that the state security apparatus has been granted absolute authority over the D-Day proceedings.

This follows concerns raised during previous internal elections regarding the presence of private ‘macho men’, vigilantes and unauthorised security details.

“We have informed all party faithful, sympathisers, stakeholders, the Presidential Candidates, and the public that the Ghana Police Service has been granted exclusive jurisdiction over the D-day election security,” the Committee stated. “No private or unauthorised security arrangements will be permitted at any voting centre.”

The Roadmap to Transparency

Mr Osei-Owusu noted that the Committee held final consultations with all presidential aspirants to finalise the operational guidelines and provide firm assurances of transparency.

Access to the inner voting perimeters will be strictly regulated.

Only delegates, electoral officials, and accredited agents representing the presidential aspirants will be permitted within the security cordon.

All other individuals, including high-ranking party supporters not serving as agents, are required to remain outside the designated zones.

A Critical Milestone for 2028

The January 31 primary is seen as an existential test for the NPP's unity agenda.

The Election Committee’s briefing emphasised that the roadmap has been mutually agreed upon to prevent post-election disputes.

With the D-Day protocols finalised, the NPP now moves into the final hours before its delegates decide the face of the party for the next four years.