The Inspector-General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has warned that anyone arrested for attempting to disrupt peace during the New Patriotic Party flagbearer primaries should not expect political interference to secure their release.
According to him, the Ghana Police Service has completed all necessary preparations to ensure a peaceful conduct of the party’s internal elections and will deal firmly with any individuals who attempt to cause disturbances.
Speaking on January 22, 2026, during of the signing of a Peace Pact by the five presidential aspirants of the New Patriotic Party, the IGP said the police had mapped out all polling centres and finalized operational plans for election day.
“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 1 polling centres. We have been able to make our operational plans. We have met all our regional commanders who are responsible for these areas. We have gone over all our preparations, and are ready to go to the field.”
He disclosed that while military support had been requested specifically for Bawku due to security concerns, the armed forces would only be on standby in other parts of the country.
According to the IGP, the Ghana Police Service has also deployed significant personnel to secure the polls, and will deploy at least 70 police at each polling station.
“We want to assure you that we have done a lot of training and preparation and my regional commanders are saying that they are even ready for the elections today.”
Addressing concerns about reports of planned violence, the IGP cautioned against disruption of peace by anyone during the elections.
“We have heard a lot, social media and others. Sometimes some of the leaders have forwarded some voices to me to let me know that some group of individuals are planning to deploy macho men.”
“We’re cautioning that the police are more macho than the macho men you’ll deploy. And when it comes to the stage that these macho men will not take advice from the caution given them, and they come to the polling station and we arrest them, I’m pleading, nobody should call me.”
The IGP stressed that the police intend to carry out their duties professionally and peacefully to safeguard the integrity of the primaries.
The New Patriotic Party flagbearer primaries are scheduled for January 31, 2026.
The five presidential aspirants are former Vice President and 2024 presidential candidate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia; former Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong; former Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Bryan Acheampong; former Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum; and former General Secretary of the party, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong.
