The New Patriotic Party has ramped up security measures for its upcoming regional executive elections, issuing a clear directive that candidates must leave bodyguards and large supporter groups behind when arriving at voting centres.
Ebenezer Doku, a member of the NPP Greater Accra Regional Elections Committee, confirmed that a substantial police presence would be on hand to protect delegates and keep proceedings orderly.
“We have security being tightly taken care of by the Tema Regional Police Commander, Asiedu. We have 700 delegates, and we have a minimum of 400 policemen,” Doku said on Accra-based Citi FM on Friday, August 14, 2026.
He stressed the party’s determination to avoid any disruption. “We want to have a very peaceful election, and so we’re asking the contestants that they should not come with bodyguards. We don’t want to have issues with a candidate having people following him into the inner perimeter,” he added.
The elections are taking place in all 16 regions, where party members will choose the executives who will steer regional affairs for the next four years.
To reduce overcrowding and the risk of unrest, the elections committee has also restricted the size of candidate entourages. “We are giving all aspirants a minimum of three observer accreditations, so that you can have one or two people following you, but certainly not a crowd,” Mr. Doku explained.
He noted that previous elections had been marred by problems linked to oversized groups accompanying aspirants. “Some of these people, when they follow, are those who create the problems for us at our various election centres,” he said.
Doku called on all contestants and their supporters to respect the security protocols so the process can run smoothly. “The police are there to give everyone protection, so we expect to have a very peaceful election,” he said.
