NPP Presidential Primaries: Key Developments and Preparations
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has taken significant steps to ensure a transparent and credible process for its upcoming presidential primaries. The Presidential Elections Committee, chaired by Joseph Osei-Owusu, recently announced that all presidential aspirants will receive a provisional voters’ register on Thursday, November 13, 2025. This move is aimed at allowing candidates to review the register, make observations, and provide feedback before it is finalised for public exhibition.
Osei-Owusu highlighted that the two-week review period is designed to promote fairness, transparency, and credibility in the party’s electoral process. The primaries are scheduled for Saturday, January 31, 2026, and the committee has been working diligently to ensure that all aspects of the election are well-organised.
On Friday, July 25, 2025, the National Council of the NPP established the Presidential Elections Committee with a clear mandate: to plan, organise, supervise, and execute the presidential election process. This step marked a critical phase in preparing for the upcoming primary elections.
One of the key measures put in place is the exclusion of party members who have forfeited their membership under Article 391 of the party’s constitution. Osei-Owusu explained that this strict policy framework is intended to address concerns and maintain open communication to prevent any suspicion or doubt about the integrity of the process.
“We have taken several steps to ensure that every issue is handled swiftly and transparently to uphold the sanctity of the process,” he said. “Such individuals shall not take part in the presidential election on January 31, 2026.”
Operational Readiness and Collaboration
The committee has already completed several crucial activities. In collaboration with officials from the Electoral Commission of Ghana, they conducted a balloting exercise to determine the order in which candidates will appear on the ballot. Notices of poll have been printed and distributed to all regional and constituency secretaries, as well as to the respective presidential aspirants.
Additionally, the committee has developed comprehensive operational guidelines for the primaries, which will soon be presented to aspirants or their representatives and other key stakeholders for compliance. These guidelines are essential to ensuring that the election process runs smoothly and efficiently.
Osei-Owusu also noted that the committee has held productive engagements with both the Electoral Commission and the Ghana Police Service. These discussions were aimed at ensuring that the election process remains orderly, peaceful, and credible. The Ghana Police Service has been granted exclusive authority over election-day security, with no private or unauthorised security arrangements allowed at any voting centre. Access to voting areas will be limited to delegates, accredited presidential aspirants or their agents, and electoral officials.
Electoral Commission’s Role
The Electoral Commission will oversee the entire conduct of the primaries, including the printing, distribution, and monitoring of ballot papers, as well as the enforcement of operational guidelines. To ensure neutrality, the Commission has also been tasked with recommending suitable voting centres or venues, which will then be shared with candidates or their accredited representatives for consideration.
During a recent validation exercise covering all constituencies and external branches, the committee identified some IT and clerical discrepancies, including omissions, misspelled names, and inaccuracies. However, Osei-Owusu stated that these issues have been rectified and were purely administrative, having no effect on the credibility of the register.
Future Steps and Collaborative Efforts
Looking ahead, the committee will hold a meeting with presidential candidates to discuss the roadmap, guidelines, and assurances of fairness and transparency ahead of the January 2026 primaries. Additionally, a joint conference involving presidential candidates, the Electoral Commission, and the Ghana Police Service will be held. A peace pact signing ceremony between the presidential aspirants, National Council of Elders, and former presidents is also planned to promote unity ahead of the primaries.