Forfeited members won’t vote in NPP flagbearer race

Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Presidential Elections Committee, Joseph Osei Owusu, has announced that delegates who have forfeited their membership under Article 3(9)(1) of the party’s constitution will be excluded from voting in the party’s upcoming presidential primaries scheduled for January 31, 2026.

Addressing a press conference in Accra, Hon. Osei Owusu provided key updates on preparations for the internal elections, outlining voter eligibility, upcoming activities, and election day security arrangements.

He revealed that the party had completed a nationwide voter album verification and validation exercise across all constituencies and external branches, identifying minor clerical errors such as misspelt names, omissions, and inaccurate voter ID details.

“These are purely administrative in nature and do not in any way affect the integrity or credibility of the voter register,” he assured.

According to him, reports confirming the deaths of some delegates and the forfeiture of membership by others have been duly verified.

“Members who have forfeited their membership shall not participate or vote in the presidential election on Saturday, January 31, 2026,” Mr. Osei Owusu stated.

He added that all presidential aspirants will receive the provisional voter register on November 13, 2025, with a two-week window for verification and feedback before the final register is confirmed.

Outlining activities ahead of the primaries, Hon. Osei Owusu mentioned several key engagements aimed at ensuring transparency and fairness. These include meetings with presidential aspirants to discuss election guidelines, the presentation of the provisional voter register, and a joint conference involving the Electoral Commission (EC), Ghana Police Service, and the aspirants.

There will also be a meeting between the candidates, the National Council of Elders, and former presidents to sign a Peace Pact ahead of the polls. The EC, he said, will supervise the printing of ballot papers, while the Committee will hold bi-weekly meetings with aspirants’ representatives for continuous coordination.

On election day, Hon. Osei Owusu stressed that the Ghana Police Service will have exclusive jurisdiction over all voting centres.

“No private or unauthorised security arrangements will be permitted at any voting centre,” he cautioned.

He further noted that access to voting areas will be limited to delegates, accredited agents, and electoral officials, with all other individuals required to remain outside designated perimeters.

Hon. Osei Owusu reaffirmed the Committee’s commitment to ensuring a transparent, credible, and peaceful election process.

“The Party has held extensive engagements with both the Electoral Commission and the Ghana Police Service to ensure that the entire process remains peaceful, credible, and well-coordinated,” he said.

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