A leaked audio recording circulating on social media has sparked controversy and heightened security concerns ahead of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential flagbearer primaries scheduled for Saturday, January 31, 2026.
The recording, attributed to Mohammed Amin Fuseini Batani, who is identified as the “Be Bold Security Chairman,” allegedly captures him instructing regional and constituency-level operatives to recruit at least 50 “commandos” per constituency.
In the audio, Batani claims the directive follows a meeting he purportedly held with Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, a leading contender in the race, and urges swift compliance.
The allegations have gained further traction following the circulation of video footage that appears to show individuals compiling and sharing the names and telephone contacts of the alleged recruits across several constituencies. The apparent coordination has intensified public anxiety and raised fresh questions about the safety and credibility of the party’s internal electoral process.
If authenticated, the reported actions would directly contravene the guidelines issued by the NPP Elections Committee, which explicitly ban the presence of macho men, private militias, or any unauthorized persons at voting centres during the primaries.
The development has revived memories of the Ablekuma North election rerun, where macho men were reportedly seen entering polling stations and intimidating voters, amid claims of inadequate intervention by security personnel. Observers say the current allegations risk exposing the party’s flagbearer election to intimidation and coercion if not urgently addressed.
Beyond the NPP’s internal contest, the situation raises broader concerns about public order and national security, placing renewed scrutiny on the Ghana Police Service’s readiness to enforce electoral laws and maintain neutrality in the face of organized non-state actors.
Calls are mounting for the leadership of the NPP, the party’s Elections Committee, the Electoral Commission, and the Ghana Police Service to launch a thorough, transparent, and independent investigation into the claims. Critics warn that failure to act decisively could undermine public confidence in the integrity of the process and erode trust in democratic institutions.
Other presidential aspirants in the race are also being urged to speak out and draw the attention of relevant authorities to the allegations, with analysts cautioning that silence could deepen mistrust and heighten tensions ahead of the vote.
The credibility of the NPP’s flagbearer primaries, and confidence in democratic competition more broadly, observers say, will depend on swift measures to ensure that intimidation, unauthorized force, or organized violence has no place in the process.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
