The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has formally released the full operational guidelines that will govern the presidential primary scheduled for Saturday, January 31, 2026.
The guidelines, issued by the Presidential Elections Committee, outline strict rules for voting, security, accreditation, and delegate conduct across all 277 voting centres nationwide.
In a letter signed by the Committee’s Secretary, William Yamoah, the party informed aspirants that the document follows “extensive deliberations and subsequent resolutions” aimed at ensuring a credible and transparent election.
“I have been directed by the Chairman to formally submit herewith the Operational Guidelines governing the conduct of the Party’s Presidential Primary… for your kind attention.”
The Committee also expressed appreciation to the aspirants and stakeholders who participated in its recent engagements.
“Your invaluable insights, constructive engagement, and demonstrated cooperation during our recent meeting… continue to enhance the integrity and efficiency of our electoral processes,” the letter said.
The guidelines emphasise the central role of the Electoral Commission (EC), which will supervise the election.
According to the document, the EC will have “full responsibility for ensuring a transparent, credible, free and fair election”, and no party official or former government appointee is permitted to act contrary to its directives.
Voting will take place in all 276 constituency capitals and at the NPP headquarters in Accra.
Each voting centre may have more than one polling station, provided the number of delegates does not exceed 1,000.
The EC will recommend the venues, and in cases of disagreement, the Presidential Elections Committee will take the final decision.
A major feature of the rules is the insistence on an orderly and interference-free voting process. Delegates will “walk in freely by themselves” and will not be allowed to enter the voting booth in pairs or groups.
Campaign activities are banned on the day before voting, and the guidelines make clear that “there shall be no camping of delegates.”
The party has also prohibited the wearing of T-shirts, caps or any clothing bearing the images or colours of aspirants at voting centres.
In addition, delegates will not be allowed to bring mobile phones into the voting perimeter. The guidelines warn that photographing a ballot is an offence and could lead to arrest or cancellation of the vote.
Security at all centres will be handled exclusively by the police, who are instructed to deny access to “machomen” and all unaccredited persons. The party notes that voting must take place in open spaces, not in enclosed venues such as hotels or event centres.
On ballot protection, the guidelines state that the EC will use “complex serial numbers” to prevent ballots from being traced back to voters.
All ballot boxes will be sealed with seals belonging to each contestant and kept by the Commission for 14 days. They will be destroyed if there are no legal challenges within that period.
The document also outlines a large and diverse electoral college. Delegates include members of the National Council, national and regional executives, constituency executives, electoral area coordinators, polling station officers, Members of Parliament, former ministers, TESCON leaders and patrons, external branch executives, founding members of the party, and representatives of special organs.
Each delegate will cast one vote, and a candidate must secure more than 50% of valid votes to win outright. If no one crosses this threshold, the party will hold a run-off between the top two aspirants, with the winner chosen by simple majority.
Copies of the guidelines have been distributed to all five presidential aspirants, Ing. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, Ken Ohene Agyapong, Dr Bryan Acheampong, Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, and Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, and copied to former Presidents Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and John Agyekum Kufuor, among others.
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