The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has fingered the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Central Command of the Ghana Armed Forces, Brigadier-General Michael Opoku, of spearheading a scheme to rig the upcoming December 7 elections in favour of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
According to the NDC, Brigadier-General Opoku is orchestrating clandestine activities, including ballot stuffing, swapping of ballot boxes, and intimidation of voters, primarily in the Ashanti Region.
Addressing the media in Accra on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, NDC Communications Officer Sammy Gyamfi alleged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has mandated Brigadier-General Opoku to take charge of a well-crafted scheme designed by the NPP to rig the upcoming election.
“In his current position, his role includes overseeing the training of NPP thugs at military camps, who will be clothed in military apparel to unleash violence on NDC agents and supporters,” Sammy Gyamfi alleged.
The NDC also alleged that Opoku’s residence in Kumasi is being used as a storage facility for weapons, illegally printed ballot papers, and other election-related materials.
The party drew connections between Brigadier-General Opoku’s alleged current activities and his controversial role during the Ayawaso West Wuogon (AWW) by-elections in 2019.
It reminded the public of Opoku’s appearance before the Emile Short Commission, where he admitted responsibility for violence perpetrated during the by-election.
“Brigadier-General Opoku carries the mayhem and brutality he supervised at Ayawaso West Wuogon as a badge of dishonour. A person like him has no place in the current environment where Ghanaians are calling for violence-free elections,” Gyamfi said.
The NDC urged key security officials to take immediate action to ensure the sanctity of the electoral process.
“We call on the Inspector-General of Police, who chairs the Elections Security Task Force, and the Chief of Defence Staff to investigate Brigadier-General Opoku and prevent him from executing this subversive agenda,” Sammy Gyamfi declared.
Ghanaians, he said, still await justice for the eight innocent lives lost during the 2020 elections and stressed the nation afford another Techiman South tragedy.
“Elections are about counting heads, not cutting heads,” he added.
The NDC expressed confidence in securing a resounding victory in the December 7 elections despite the rigging agenda of the ruling party.
The party’s national communications officer described the election as a choice between the experienced nation-builder, John Dramani Mahama, and the dishonest, discredited economist, Alhaji Bawumia.
He argued, “The people of Ghana will choose an honest leader who upholds the virtues of truth and decency over one completely allergic to the truth.”
Sammy Gyamfi issued a stern warning to Brigadier-General Opoku and his alleged collaborators.
“We have them under our radar and will continue to monitor them with eagle eyes. This time around, they will not succeed. Violence cannot and will not win the NPP this election,” he warned.
The NDC called on Ghanaians and civil society organizations to join hands in condemning actions that undermine the country’s democracy.
“Peace has a price, and we must all be willing to pay it to preserve our nation’s stability,” Sammy Gyamfi stressed.
