NPP race: Kennedy Agyapong urges heightened security

New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer hopeful, Kennedy Agyapong, has called for heightened vigilance from the Electoral Commission (EC) and the Ghana Police Service over the transportation of ballot papers ahead of the party’s internal presidential election.

In a press release issued by his campaign team, Mr Agyapong said intelligence gathered by his team on the ground suggests that the EC does not have sufficient official vehicles to convey ballot papers to all 276 constituencies across the country.

According to the statement, the EC has therefore resorted to the use of private vehicles that have been approved, branded with EC stickers and accompanied by EC officials under police escort.

However, the campaign raised concerns over what it described as isolated incidents in the Ashanti, Western and Greater Accra regions, where ballot papers were allegedly being transported without the approved vehicles.

The flagbearer hopeful urged both the Commission and the Ghana Police Service to exercise extreme caution and put in place the necessary measures to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.

“We call for extreme vigilance from the Ghana Police Service and the Electoral Commission, and we ask that the right measures be put in place to ensure the election is free and fair,” the statement said.

Mr Agyapong also expressed concern about the circulation of old video footage from the NPP’s 2023 presidential primaries, warning that such material could be used to foment disaffection among delegates or create unnecessary tension within the party.

He cautioned against intimidation tactics and appealed to party members, supporters and other stakeholders to refrain from circulating the videos, stressing the need for a peaceful and credible internal contest.

Describing the flagbearer election as an internal democratic exercise of the New Patriotic Party, the statement emphasised that delegates must be allowed to make their choices freely, without pressure or interference.

“This is an internal contest of democracy within the New Patriotic Party,” the statement noted.

“Delegates must be free to choose their preferred candidate without any form of interference.”

The campaign team further assured the general public that its intelligence-gathering efforts remain active nationwide, reaffirming its commitment to a free, fair and transparent electoral process.

JoyOnline