NPP Elections Chief stands firm on proxy voting ban

The Chairman of the New Patriotic Party’s Presidential Elections Committee, Joe Osei Owusu, has turned down petitions from party students and diaspora members who are calling for the reversal of the ban on proxy voting in the 2026 presidential primaries.

Their concern is that the decision shuts out members who cannot travel to vote, especially those studying or living abroad.

Osei Owusu explained that the committee looked carefully at every appeal submitted but concluded that keeping the restriction in place is the best way to protect the integrity of the internal polls.

He said their review showed that allowing proxy voting at this stage could create confusion and spark challenges that might undermine confidence in the final results.

According to him, the committee’s goal is to ensure a peaceful and orderly election that all candidates and supporters can trust.

“We have read the petitions presented by sections of the party, and after listening to all that, we came to the conclusion that for the sake of conducting an election that is incident-free and credible, that provision should be maintained,” he said.

The proxy voting ban was first announced earlier this year as part of the party’s election guidelines. The rule quickly drew criticism from members abroad who believe it restricts their participation and does not reflect the party’s expanding global membership.

Students have also argued that the ban makes it impossible for them to take part if they cannot return home.

Despite these concerns, the committee insists that in-person voting remains the most dependable method for ensuring transparency and avoiding logistical complications.

Osei Owusu added that maintaining the current system would help preserve trust in the outcome and keep the process straightforward.