The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has unveiled comprehensive measures to govern its upcoming presidential primary scheduled for Saturday, January 31, 2026, amid growing interest and scrutiny from party delegates and political observers.

In a statement issued by the party’s Presidential Elections Committee (PEC) on January 26, 2026, the leadership underscored its commitment to a transparent, fair, and credible electoral process.

The statement signed by PEC Secretary William Yamoah, expressed appreciation to all presidential candidate aspirants, stakeholders, and the public for their collaborative engagement in the preparations for the primary.

“This cooperative engagement has significantly contributed to fostering positive interactions among the involved parties,” the statement noted, highlighting the emphasis on procedural fairness.

A key highlight of the protocol is the full delegation of the election process to the Electoral Commission (EC), ensuring that the management of the primary adheres to national standards of transparency and impartiality.

The PEC also clarified that the Ghana Police Service will be solely responsible for security, restricting access beyond security perimeters to delegates, committee members, aspirants, and their officially accredited agents.

In a move aimed at preventing voter intimidation and maintaining secrecy, the PEC strictly prohibited the public display of cast ballots, photographing of votes, and gestures indicating voting preferences.

Any violation of these rules will result in arrest, and the implicated vote will be declared invalid.

Similarly, delegates are expected to present valid identification at security checkpoints, including voter IDs, party cards, passports, or Ghana cards, while agents representing aspirants may observe preliminary verification of voter registers.

The party has also ordered all Regional Executive Committees to suspend any pre-planned programs, including workshops, retreats, and meetings involving delegates, from Thursday, January 29, 2026, until the conclusion of voting.

Voting itself will operate as a walk-in process from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and no congregation of delegates will be allowed at voting centers.

Strict rules have been set for decorum at polling stations. Delegates are prohibited from wearing candidate-specific colors or effigies, entering voting booths in groups or pairs, or being escorted to the voting screen unless they have mobility challenges approved by the Electoral Commission.

Presiding officers will issue ballots individually, and no ballots may be removed from booklets in advance. Aspirants, party executives, and former government officials are barred from addressing delegates or influencing voting on the day of the election.

The PEC emphasized that electronic devices, including mobile phones capable of photographing ballots, will be restricted at voting stations. Delegates are to follow the walk-in procedure and vote privately without interference, and presiding officers are instructed not to call out delegate names while managing queues.

According to the PEC, these measures supplement previously issued operational guidelines, reinforcing the party’s commitment to a smooth, credible, and impartial election.

“We assure Presidential Candidate Aspirants, delegates, and the public of our unwavering commitment to ensuring free, fair, credible, and transparent elections,” Yamoah stated.