The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on the Ghana Armed Forces, especially the Chief of Defence Staff, to institute investigations into the alleged plot by Brigadier-General Opoku to help the ruling party win the elections.
“The NDC and by extension, the people of Ghana will hold the IGP, the Chief of Defence Staff and our Security heads responsible for the loss of a single life in the 2024 general elections”, the party said
According to the NDC, Brig Gen Opoku is allegedly under instructions to lead a scheme by the New Patriotic Party to rig the upcoming election, particularly in the Ashanti region.
The Chronicle cannot independently confirmthese allegations against the serving military man, but addressing a press conference in Accra yesterday, National Communication Officer of the party, Sammy Gyamfi alleged that the plot included ballot stuffing, swapping of ballot boxes and swapping of pink sheets among others.
Sammy Gyamfi disclosed that intelligence picked by the NDC indicated that Brig Gen Opoku had allegedly vowed to execute the alleged plot.
He alleged that election materials, which their opponents intend to use to execute the alleged plot to rig the elections, have been stacked in Brig Gen Opoku’s house for safe keeping.
The Chronicle cannot again independently confirm this allegation, but Sammy Gyamfi insisted that per “our credible intelligence, Brigadier-General Opoku’s residence in Kumasi is currently the storage facility for illegally-printed ballot papers, among others”.
Call on the IGP & CDS
The NDC called on the Inspector-General of Police, Dr George Akufo Dampare, who is the Chairman of the Elections Security Task Force not to allow any persons to usurp his authority on Election Day.
The IGP and the Elections Security Task Force, the party said, must get to the bottom of the said election-rigging agenda and stop Brigadier-General Opoku.
“The IGP owes a duty to the people of Ghana to be firm and fair-minded to ensure peace during and after the elections. In this regard, we assure him of our fullest cooperation,” Sammy Gyamfi stated.
According to Lawyer Sammy Gyamfi, the elections were about counting heads and not cutting heads and, therefore, stressed that no person must lose his or her life on the altar of elections.
“Friends from the media, peace has a price and all of us well-meaning Ghanaians must be prepared to pay that price for peace to prevail in Ghana before, during and after the 2024 elections
One of the ways to preserve the peace and stability of Ghana is to join hands in condemning persons who have the tendency and proclivity of compromising free, fair and peaceful elections”, he emphasised.
Brigadier-General Michael Opoku, who was inducted as the General Officer Commanding the Central Command of the Ghana Armed Forces, as recent as July this year, once served as the Director of Operations at the National Security Secretariat.
It was during this tenure, according to Sammy Gyamfi, that personnel from the National Security Secretariat unleashed mayhem and brutalities on innocent Ghanaians during the infamous Ayawaso West Wugon bye-elections on January 31, 2019.
Sammy Gyamfi said when he appeared before the Emile Short Commission after the incident, Colonel Michael Opoku, as he then was, accepted responsibility as a leader.
The Short Commission also placed ultimate liability on the military officer and recommended that he be reprimanded “for being ultimately responsible for the outcome of the SWAT operation at the La Bawaleshie School Polling Station.”
