By Ashiadey Dotse
The Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Presidential Elections Committee, Joseph Osei Owusu, has warned that any delegate who shows their ballot paper after voting will lose the vote during the party’s presidential primaries.
Mr Osei Owusu made this clear in an interview on GTV’s Breakfast Show on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, as he explained strict rules put in place to protect the secrecy and credibility of the voting process.
According to him, voting in the NPP primaries will be by secret ballot, and delegates are not allowed to display their marked ballot to anyone. He said once a ballot is shown, it becomes invalid and will not be counted.
He further stated that mobile phones will not be allowed in the voting booth, to prevent delegates from taking pictures of their ballots. Any delegate found violating this rule will be stopped by security officers, and the vote will be rejected.
Mr Osei Owusu explained that these measures are meant to reassure party members that the process is fair, transparent and free from manipulation. He said the rules also help calm tensions among party supporters and ensure that the primaries are conducted peacefully.
The Elections Committee Chairman noted that complaints, if any, will be handled quickly by district election officers, who are in charge at polling centres. He added that the Ghana Police Service will enforce the rules and maintain order throughout the voting exercise.
He also revealed that all presidential aspirants have signed a peace pact, committing themselves to accept the outcome of the primaries and support the eventual winner. According to him, the pact is meant to promote unity and allow the party to move forward after the election.
Mr Osei Owusu indicated that the measures in place will lead to a smooth process and help the NPP emerge from the primaries as a united and focused party ahead of future elections.
