BY Daniel Bampoe
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has entered the final phase of preparations for its National Annual Delegates Conference and election of national officers, with the National Officers Elections Committee (NOEC) announcing a series of measures intended to guide the conduct of the polls.
Addressing a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, the Chairman of the NOEC, Frederick Opare-Ansah, said the committee had completed a final engagement with aspirants and their representatives to brief them on the rules, regulations, guidelines and operational arrangements for the upcoming elections.
The conference is scheduled for Saturday, October 3, 2026, at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi, with the NOEC saying preparations are proceeding according to schedule.
The latest engagement also addressed outstanding issues and clarified matters for candidates ahead of the election.
Final Delegates Register Completed
A major development announced by the elections committee is the completion of the Final Delegates Register.
According to Opare-Ansah, the register will be made available for collection by aspirants or their authorised representatives from Thursday, September 17, 2026.
The committee has also introduced an online verification system through which delegates can independently check their eligibility to participate in the elections.
Delegates are expected to visit the NPP’s official website, select the “Verification” option, and enter either their phone number or Voter ID number. They will subsequently receive a One-Time Password (OTP), which will allow them to access their eligibility status. Where the details provided do not correspond with the party’s records, the system will notify the user.
The committee is encouraging delegates to complete the verification exercise before travelling to Kumasi for the conference.
Special Voting Arrangements For Youth And Women
The NOEC has also clarified how delegates belonging to the youth and women’s categories will participate in the election of the party’s specialised national officers.
All eligible youth delegates will participate in the election of the National Youth Organiser, in addition to the other positions for which they are entitled to vote.
Similarly, all eligible female delegates will vote in the election of the National Women’s Organiser while also participating in the other elections applicable to them.
For the election of the three National Vice-Chairpersons, every delegate will be required to select three aspirants. The NOEC said a tally system will be used to count the votes, with detailed voting instructions to be provided before voting begins.
Aspirants To Name Printing And Polling Agents
As part of measures aimed at providing candidates with representation during key stages of the electoral process, aspirants have been directed to submit the names of their printing agents.
The agents will be allowed to monitor the printing of ballot papers on behalf of the respective aspirants.
Candidates are also required to submit the names and photographs of their polling agents. The information will be used for identification, accreditation and access arrangements ahead of election day.
Proxy Voting To Be Permitted
The committee has further confirmed that proxy voting will be allowed in the national officers’ election.
Opare-Ansah said a Proxy Voting Framework had been developed to regulate the process, including eligibility, applications, verification, approval and the actual exercise of proxy votes.
The NOEC will directly administer and supervise the proxy voting arrangements with support from its Secretariat.
The process is expected to culminate in the publication of the final Proxy Register on September 27, 2026.
The committee has consequently urged delegates intending to vote by proxy to follow the prescribed guidelines and meet all applicable deadlines.
Electoral Commission to Conduct Polls
The actual elections will be conducted by the Electoral Commission of Ghana, while the NOEC will supervise the process and ensure that it is conducted in accordance with the rules, regulations and guidelines established for the exercise.
The elections committee also said it is working with the Ghana Police Service and the Electoral Commission on security and operational arrangements.
According to the committee, the collaboration is intended to facilitate an orderly and secure process during the conference and voting exercise.
Delegates Expected In Kumasi On October 2
The NOEC has directed delegates to arrive in Kumasi on the evening of Friday, October 2, 2026, and proceed to their designated accommodation facilities.
The National Annual Delegates Conference is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 3.
Delegates have therefore been asked to comply with the transportation and accommodation arrangements that will subsequently be communicated and to ensure punctuality on the day of the conference.
Media Accreditation Deadline Set
The elections committee has also outlined specific arrangements for journalists, traditional media organisations and bloggers who intend to cover the conference.
All media personnel seeking access to the conference must obtain accreditation, with applications closing on September 21, 2026.
Applicants are required to visit the NPP’s official website, select “Accreditation”, choose the appropriate category, complete the application form, and upload a photograph. Successful applicants will receive email notification and subsequently be informed of the status of their applications.
A Media Village will also be established at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium for accredited media houses that want to set up studios for coverage before and after the conference. Requests for space must be submitted by Friday, September 18, 2026.
However, for security and operational reasons, media houses will not be permitted into the inner perimeter of the stadium. The party’s dedicated production team will instead provide an official broadcast feed to broadcast organisations for live transmission and use.
NOEC Calls For Compliance
The NOEC said it has impressed upon aspirants and their representatives the need to ensure that their agents, supporters and delegates comply with the electoral, accreditation and security arrangements.
The committee acknowledged the cooperation it had received from the various aspirants and their representatives during the electoral preparations and said the focus at this stage was on completing the remaining arrangements ahead of the conference.
Opare-Ansah said the committee remains committed to conducting a process that is fair, transparent, orderly and credible for all aspirants and delegates.
He also acknowledged the cooperation of the Electoral Commission, Ghana Police Service, party structures, aspirants, delegates, the media and other stakeholders involved in preparations for the October 3 exercise.
