The National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Henry Nana Boakye, popularly known as Nana B, has assured that the party will take lawful steps to safeguard its members during the upcoming Akwatia by-election scheduled for Tuesday, September 2, 2025.

His comments follow the NPP’s renewed call on the Ghana Police Service to arrest and prosecute individuals involved in the recent election rerun violence at Ablekuma North before the Akwatia polls.

According to Nana B, the attacks on NPP supporters in Ablekuma North have made it necessary for the party to adopt its own security arrangements, even with police deployment in place.

Speaking on Joy FM's Top Story, he explained that "For self-protection, it's within our laws."

"You have to defend yourself. You have to protect yourself all the time. So if the NPP says that, yes, we are going to go into this election with the mindset of protecting ourselves, it is within the law.

He stressed, however, that these measures will strictly comply with the law.

"Everything that we will do that will amount to protection of ourselves, clearly will be fitted within the remits of the law."

He further urged the police to stick to their commitment not to deploy any military personnel during the poll.

"We don't need any military presence there."

The Electoral Commission (EC) confirmed that the printing of ballot papers for the upcoming Akwatia parliamentary by-election will officially commence on Wednesday, August 20.

This was announced after the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) convened a crucial meeting today with representatives of political parties to discuss preventive measures against election-related violence and key security arrangements for the upcoming poll.

Addressing the media after the meeting, the Commission's Director of Electoral Services, Benjamin Bano-Bioh, indicated that "as of now, we are going to start the printing of ballots from tomorrow."

"Procurement has already been done. We have procured all the materials required for the election, so we are already," he added.

This move comes in the wake of the sudden passing of Akwatia MP Ernest Yaw Kumi earlier this year, prompting a by-election to fill his seat in Parliament.

The late legislator, who represented the New Patriotic Party (NPP), died in July 2025, necessitating the electoral preparations.