Ahead of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential primary scheduled for 31st January 2026, the Director of Elections for the Kennedy Agyapong campaign, Joojo Rocky Obeng, has urged the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to consider seeking support from other security agencies if the Ghana Police Service cannot guarantee the peaceful and secure conduct of the process on its own.

Mr Obeng made the appeal during an interview on Ekosiisen on Asempa FM on Wednesday, January 7, saying that while the party has its own basic internal security arrangements, the police must be ready to involve additional forces as needed, given the complexity of the election.

He stressed that the 277 polling centres for the primary mean substantial security requirements, adding: “I would like to advise or respectfully tell the Ghana Police Service, that if need be and they need the assistance of other security agencies to support them, they shouldn’t hesitate to do so.”

Highlighting his experience as a former Regional Minister who chaired a Regional Security Council, Mr Obeng said that in election security, it is typical for the Police to bring in other agencies, including the Ghana Armed Forces, Immigration Service or even the Ghana National Fire Service, to support policing efforts as part of an election taskforce.

He said: “This election is taking place in 277 centres. So, the Ghana Police Service and the IGP should carry out a good assessment because we do not want to experience any chaos, which is why we’ve handed over election security to them. If we are voting in 277 centres, which is not like a nationwide election, and they won’t have enough officers to provide security, then they should form an election taskforce by getting other sister security agencies to help them.”

While underscoring that this advice came from experience and was not meant to cast doubt on the Police’s capabilities, Mr Obeng referenced security challenges witnessed in the Ablekuma constituency by-election, where some polling stations experienced issues.

“On a normal day, per the strength of the Ghana Police Service, I may not have even offered this advice. It’s just advice, and they can consider it coming from someone with experience in election security.”

He reiterated that the Police and the Electoral Commission (EC) are responsible for ensuring a peaceful result, reminding Ghanaians that the party’s chosen venues were decided by the EC.

“The venues we’re using have been decided by the Electoral Commission, and the policing is in the hands of the Ghana Police Service.”

Mr Obeng also referenced the tone of unity set by the NPP’s leading aspirant, Kennedy Agyapong, at his recent Ken National Praise event. He said the campaign believes Mr Agyapong has “secured the victory already,” and that the task now rests with the Police and EC to facilitate a smooth process.

The NPP’s presidential contest for the 2028 general election will see five candidates on the ballot, including Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Ing. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, Dr Bryan Acheampong, and Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum. These aspirants have been vetted and positioned for voting by party delegates ahead of the January 31 primaries.