Bryan Acheampong's comments could undermine credibility of 2024 elections – Analyst

Security analyst Adam Bonaa warns that Bryan Acheampong’s statements about the New Patriotic Party’s desire to retain power at all costs could potentially undermine the integrity, credibility, and security of the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections.

He averred that although the Minister of Agriculture may not personally engage in violent means or attempt to rig the elections in favour of the NPP, party supporters might treat his comments as a call to use machinations to rig the elections.

The Abetifi Member of Parliament and Minister of Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, reiterated the governing New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) decision not to hand over power to the NDC.

Addressing a crowd at a campaign rally of the NPP in Nsawam in the Eastern Region, Acheampong declared that the NDC should forget winning the elections because they will use all available means to retain power.

“I’ve stated that the NDC would never win the 2024 elections, whether they like it or not. They couldn’t prevail.

"You are able to review their records. They couldn’t prevail. The elections would be won by the NPP. The NPP is in politics to win.

"We would thus go to any lengths to win the elections. We are a political party made up of pastors, imams, and traditionalists; thus, we would use whatever tactics were necessary to win the election. Burn the sea if you don’t understand; we’ll win and carry on with our good deeds,” he said.

Bona emphasized that this has the potential to influence the base of the party to engage in acts that can undermine the credibility of the elections.

“The NPP as a party may not have planned to use machinations in the upcoming elections, but Bryan Acheampong’s comments, which he has repeated three times, may influence some party members to use any means possible to retain power at all costs, including rigging.

"However, if the party’s leadership emphasizes the need for credible, transparent, free, and fair processes and expresses their willingness to hand over power when they lose, then their supporters will be influenced as well.”

Adam Bonaa maintained that the youth from both sides of the political parties may engage in acts that can compromise the elections, and it was not the best since it could threaten our peace and stability.

“That is why I call on the National Peace Council, the National Chief Imam, the Christian Council, the Pentecostal Council, and the rest to intervene and admonish the politicians from all sides to be circumspect in their political commentary and avoid comments that influence people negatively, just like we saw in Rwanda.

"So, for me, we need to be very careful and circumspect with regards to what we are saying and doing from now until the elections and after the elections,” Bonaa said on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM.