The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has tightened security measures ahead of its regional executive elections, directing candidates not to bring bodyguards or large groups of supporters to voting centres.

Ebenezer Doku, a member of the NPP Greater Accra Regional Elections Committee, said a substantial number of police officers would be deployed to protect delegates and maintain order throughout the exercise.

Speaking in an interview with Accra-based Citi FM, Mr Doku said about 400 police officers would be deployed to provide security for the 700 delegates expected to participate in the Greater Accra election.

He said the security arrangements were intended to prevent disturbances and ensure that the elections were conducted peacefully.

“We want to have a very peaceful election, and so we’re asking the contestants that they should not come with bodyguards. We don’t want to have issues with a candidate having people following him into the inner perimeter,” he said.

The NPP is holding its regional executive elections across all 16 regions to elect executives who will manage the party’s affairs at the regional level for the next four years.

Mr Doku said the elections committee had also limited the number of people who could accompany candidates to the voting centres to avoid overcrowding and potential disruptions.

He said each aspirant would be given a minimum of three observer accreditations, allowing only a few people to accompany them to the voting centre.

According to him, previous elections have shown that large groups of supporters accompanying candidates can sometimes contribute to disturbances at voting centres.

He therefore urged candidates and their supporters to respect the security arrangements and cooperate with the police to ensure a smooth and peaceful electoral process.