Akufo-Addo charged Brigadier Gen. Opoku to rig election in Ashanti –NDC

In a dramatic turn of events, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused Brigadier-General Michael Opoku of orchestrating an elaborate election-rigging scheme designed to influence the results of the upcoming December 7 elections, particularly in the Ashanti region. This explosive claim, made during a press conference on Tuesday, has sent shockwaves through the political landscape as the NDC alleges that Opoku, with the tacit approval of President Akufo-Addo, is tasked with ensuring victory for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) through nefarious means.

A troubling record

Brigadier-General Opoku, currently the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Central Command of the Ghana Armed Forces, is no stranger to controversy. The NDC highlighted Opoku’s involvement in the infamous Ayawaso West Wugon by-election of January 2019, where as Director of Operations at the National Security Secretariat, he allegedly commanded the violent actions of NPP thugs who attacked opposition supporters, including Ningo Prampram MP, Samuel Nartey George. The brutalities resulted in several deaths and injuries, and Opoku later admitted before the Emile Short Commission that he had instructed the attack. Despite the findings, President Akufo-Addo’s rejection of the Commission’s report and Opoku’s subsequent promotion has raised concerns within the NDC about his continued influence in the military.

Election-rigging allegations

The NDC’s accusations focus on what they describe as Opoku’s involvement in a calculated plot to rig the upcoming elections. According to the NDC, Brigadier-General Opoku has been instructed by President Akufo-Addo to lead a covert operation aimed at manipulating the outcome of the polls, specifically in the Ashanti region. This scheme, the NDC alleges, includes ballot stuffing, swapping of ballot boxes and pink sheets, and other covert operations to tilt the election in favor of the NPP.

“We have received credible reports that Brigadier-General Opoku is the mastermind behind these efforts, which are set to begin with the special voting exercise on December 2,” National Communication Officer of NDC Sammy Gyamfi said at the press conference. The NDC further claims that Brigadier Gen. Opoku has been training NPP supporters at military camps such as the Asutsuare Military Camp, preparing them to wear military uniforms and intimidate NDC agents and voters on election day.

Hidden agenda and foreign allegiances

The NDC’s allegations take a personal turn with claims that Opoku, who has reportedly relocated his family to the United Kingdom, is motivated by personal ambition. The NDC asserts that Opoku is seeking the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) in the event that the NPP wins the election, a position he hopes to secure by delivering the Ashanti region, a stronghold of the NPP, through illicit means.

Moreover, the NDC points to Opoku’s residence in Kumasi, which they claim is being used as a storage facility for illegal election materials, including weapons, military uniforms, and allegedly pre-printed ballots. These accusations raise questions about the role of the military in the country’s elections and the security apparatus’s impartiality.

Calls for action

In response to these grave allegations, the NDC has called for immediate action. They have demanded the removal of Brigadier-General Opoku from his post as GOC, insisting that his past actions and current involvement in alleged election manipulation make him unfit for such a critical role in the security forces. Furthermore, the NDC is urging the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Chief of Defence Staff to launch an immediate investigation into Opoku’s activities.

“Brigadier-General Opoku is a man with a notorious record,” said the NDC. “He should not be allowed anywhere near the security apparatus as we approach the 2024 general elections. We are monitoring him and his collaborators closely, and we will not allow violence or rigging to disrupt the will of the people.”

The NDC also made a broader appeal for peace and democracy in the country, calling on all well-meaning Ghanaians to join them in safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process. “We owe it to Ghana and future generations to ensure that our elections remain free, fair, and peaceful,” they emphasized.

Tensions eescalate ahead of elections

With just 18 days to the 2024 general elections, tensions are high as the NDC and NPP face off in a heated battle for the presidency. While the NDC remains confident in their chances, citing the leadership of John Dramani Mahama as a beacon of hope for the nation, the NPP is not expected to concede defeat easily. Allegations of election rigging and violence are not new in Ghana’s political history, and the NDC’s accusations only add fuel to an already combustible political environment.

As the countdown to the elections continues, all eyes will be on Brigadier-General Michael Opoku and the security forces to see how they respond to these serious allegations. For now, the NDC has vowed to stand firm against any attempts to subvert the democratic process and has promised to continue its vigilance in the days leading up to the December 7 vote.

The fate of Ghana’s democracy may very well rest on the actions of those charged with protecting it. As the political temperature rises, the hope for a peaceful and transparent election is becoming increasingly fraught with uncertainty.