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Election Watch Ghana has issued an urgent appeal for peace and calm ahead of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearership elections scheduled for January 31, 2026, citing rising tensions and reported incidents of violence within the party.
In a statement dated January 19, 2026, the election monitoring group expressed deep concern over reports of supporters being assaulted and chased away from campaign activities, warning that such actions undermine the integrity of the internal electoral process.
Election Watch Ghana referenced specific incidents in Sunyani, where a female supporter, identified as Naa Torshi, was reportedly chased from a campaign venue and forced to address the public from a vehicle. The group also cited reports of a social media activist allegedly being beaten by members of a rival camp.
Describing the incidents as alarming and unacceptable, the group stressed that political competition must not descend into violence, especially during a critical internal party exercise that attracts national attention.
The organisation has called on the Ghana Police Service to urgently intervene by convening an emergency meeting with all flagbearer aspirants and NPP leadership to agree on clear guidelines and enforce a strict code of conduct for the elections.
It further urged the police and other relevant stakeholders to deploy adequate security personnel to identified hotspots, take swift steps to de-escalate tensions, and prevent any further outbreaks of violence before, during, and after the polls.
Election Watch Ghana also appealed to NPP members and supporters to exercise restraint, tolerance, and calm, emphasising that democracy thrives on peaceful competition and respect for electoral outcomes.
