The Inspector-General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has disclosed that seventy is the minimum number of police officers to be at each polling station ahead of the presidential primaries.

According to him, senior officers will also be deployed nationwide to supervise operations.

“We assure you that at least 70 is the least number of police officers will be at each polling station. We have deployed heavily. All senior officers countrywide are going to be at the police station,” he said a peace pact signing ceremony involving NPP presidential aspirants of the NPP.

He has given assurances that the Ghana Police Service is fully ready to provide security for the New Patriotic Party’s upcoming presidential primaries.

According to the IGP, the party officially notified the police weeks ago that security for the internal elections would be handled exclusively by the Ghana Police Service.

“Some few weeks ago, the NPP party wrote to the police to inform us that the security for the forthcoming presidential elections will be solely handled by the Ghana Police Service,” he said.

Mr Yohuno explained that the police have since mapped out all polling locations and completed detailed operational plans to ensure the elections are conducted peacefully.

“We want to assure you that we have been able to identify all the areas where the elections will take place. We have 276 plus one polling centres. We have been able to make our operational plans,” he stated.

He said the police service has held meetings with all regional commanders responsible for the various polling areas to coordinate and supervise security measures.

“We have met all our regional commanders who are responsible for these areas where these elections will take place. We have gone over all the preparations over and over and are ready to go to the field,” the IGP noted.

Mr Yohuno indicated that Bawku is the only area where additional military support may be needed because of its specific security challenges. He said the police have formally written to the Minister for the Interior to engage the Minister of Defence to arrange military assistance for that area.

He added that elsewhere across the country, the military will be placed on standby, while the police will lead security operations.

Mr Yohuno also outlined a multi-layered security arrangement involving inner, middle, and outer deployment, with the outer perimeter receiving heavy reinforcement.

“We have the inner deployment, the middle deployment, and then the outer deployment. The outer deployment is heavily loaded,” he explained.

He assured stakeholders that extensive training and preparations have been carried out and that police commanders across the country are confident in their readiness.

“I want to assure you that we have done a lot of training and preparation and that my regional commanders have called me and said that they are even ready for the election today,” Mr Yohuno added.

The IGP expressed appreciation to the NPP leadership for entrusting the Ghana Police Service with the responsibility of securing the exercise, describing the move as a vote of confidence in the professionalism of the police.

The peace pact signing ceremony forms part of the NPP’s efforts to ensure peaceful internal elections and foster unity ahead of the 2028 general elections.

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has sent a word of advice to the members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) ahead of the party's flagbearer race.

Speaking at the launch of the party’s new think tank, the Patriotic Institute, on Wednesday, 25 June, Mr Kufuor called on party supporters to elect a leader who is not influenced by religious and tribal bias.

“We are a democratic party and we uphold common humanity. In a democracy, we don’t go for tribe or religion or gender but the individual. It is one man, one vote, and if we want power, we have to present a person who will be convincing to the generality of the electorate,” he added.

He explained that the flagbearer should be one who can diligently serve the people of Ghana.

“We’ve been brushed by our opponents as a tribal party — and these days, we are even adding religion. If these things come from our own mouths, then I tell you, we are perpetuating it ourselves,” he lamented.

“Tell the truth to ourselves” and focus on selecting a leader who can unify the country and “help solve the problems of the community at large, so it benefits and spreads across the board for all,” he stated.

The NPP will hold its presidential primaries on Saturday, January 31, 2026.

The decision was taken at a crucial meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) held on Tuesday, 17th June 2025, and later confirmed by the party's General Secretary, Justin Frimpong Kodua and also in an official statement.

"And the National Council today also made the decision that the date for our presidential primaries is set for January 31, 2026. That will be the date that we shall hold our presidential primaries" parts of the statement said.

This sets the stage for a decisive contest to elect the party’s flagbearer for the 2028 general elections.

The statement also revealed that "the Committee also spoke about the time for our presidential primaries. And again, the Committee agrees that that decision does not warrant amendment of our Constitution".

The primaries are anticipated to attract significant interest from both longstanding members and new contenders seeking to lead the NPP into the next electoral cycle.

Party officials also noted that nomination guidelines, timelines for campaign activities, and the code of conduct for aspirants will be released in the coming weeks, with the NEC promising party members a transparent and credible process that upholds the democratic values of the NPP.

Also speaking in an interview with Channel One TV on Tuesday, June 17, Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Haruna Mohammed, explained that the seemingly early date slated for the party's primaries is intentional.

He noted that it is meant to give the chosen flagbearer a head start in policy communication and to foster stronger connections with both the international community and the business sector.

He believes this will reposition the party as a credible and prepared alternative ahead of the 2028 general elections.

“It is going to market the candidate enough, particularly in terms of building contacts with the international community, the business community, and stakeholders across the globe,” he noted.

“We will have sufficient time to communicate our policies effectively and hold the government accountable.”

Also, given the NPP’s current minority status in Parliament, with only 88 seats, he believes an early start will help intensify external engagements.

“We need someone who can rise above internal distractions and rally support nationally and beyond to keep the government in check,” he added.