By Edward Acquah, GNA
Accra, Jan 31 – Polls have officially opened at 0700 hours today, for the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential primary, as delegates nationwide choose a flagbearer for the 2028 general election.
All five aspirants have concluded weeks of intensive nationwide campaigning, setting the stage for a keenly contested internal election expected to shape the party’s future direction.
The contenders – Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Mr Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Dr Bryan Acheampong, and Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum – criss-crossed the country, engaging delegates and party faithful across all regions and constituencies with their respective visions.
While each aspirant projected distinct approaches to party unity and electoral victory in 2028, the atmosphere ahead of today’s polls is marked by anticipation and focused determination among delegates.
Delegates and voting centres
A total of 211,849 accredited delegates are eligible to vote at 333 designated polling centres nationwide, covering the country’s 276 constituencies. Voting closes at 1400 hours, after which counting and collation will commence.
The delegates’ register was finalised following extensive validation and correction exercises, reducing an initial list of 213,617 names through the removal of deceased members and individuals who forfeited party membership.
The Electoral Commission is overseeing the entire process to ensure compliance with democratic standards and procedural transparency.
Voting centres were jointly identified by the party and the EC. While most constituencies have one centre, additional voting points were created in areas where delegate numbers exceed 1,000, resulting in the current total of 333 centres, including one at the party’s national headquarters in Accra.
Election approach and rules
The primary is being conducted under strict rules agreed upon by all aspirants. The party has abolished proxy voting to safeguard the integrity of the exercise, allowing only
accredited delegates with valid identification – a voter ID card, Ghana Card, or passport – to vote.
Mobile phones are prohibited within voting areas, and all participants are required to comply fully with established conduct regulations.
The NPP has formally handed over the processes of voting, counting, collation, and declaration of results to the Electoral Commission.
Results are expected to be declared at polling centres, collated at regional centres, and finally announced at the party’s national headquarters in Accra, where the official winner will be presented to the public.
Security arrangements
The Ghana Police Service has deployed between 70 and 150 officers to each voting centre, with military support in selected areas, particularly parts of the Upper East Region.
The party has cautioned against the use of private security operatives or “macho men,” warning that any violations will attract severe sanctions.
Police have also trained party executives on the electoral rules, with emphasis on preventing overcrowding, protecting delegates’ rights, and maintaining order throughout the process.
Opinion polls and contest outlook
In the final week before the primary, opinion polls provided an indication of delegate preferences.
A predictive model by Global InfoAnalytics projected Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to lead with about 57 per cent support, followed by Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong with around 28 per cent, and Dr Bryan Acheampong with approximately 13 per cent. Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum and Mr Kwabena Agyei Agyepong trailed in the projections.
Analysts attribute these trends to Dr Bawumia’s national visibility and established regional networks from previous campaigns.
However, commentators caution that opinion polls are not definitive, noting that internal party dynamics and regional considerations can influence outcomes until the final ballot is cast.
Unity and the road to 2028
As voting proceeds, attention is already turning to the post-election task of uniting the party behind the eventual flagbearer.
With the National Democratic Congress in government following its victory in the 2024 general election, the NPP’s next flagbearer will face the challenge of reconciling internal differences while presenting a compelling alternative to voters ahead of 2028.
Today’s outcome is expected to influence not only the party’s choice of presidential candidate, but also its organisational cohesion and strategic posture as Ghana enters a new electoral cycle.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
