Gordon Asare-Bediako, a TV host with Movement Television, has called on the Ghana Police Service to arrest the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, and the communication officer of the party, Sammy Gyamfi.
His call for arrest comes after the Ghana Police Service extended an invitation to Oheneba Nana Asiedu, a presenter of Wontumi Radio/TV who also doubles as an aide to the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, over his claim that the upcoming 2024 presidential election would be held on different days.
Gordon argued that if Oheneba’s claim merits disinformation, then the former president should also be arrested for claiming that he implemented the government’s flagship policy, the Free SHS, as well as Sammy Gyamfi for accusing a high-ranking military officer of election rigging.
Speaking on his show on November 23, 2024, he stated, “Police say they have invited Oheneba Asiedu, our morning show host, because he has said something concerning the upcoming elections which is disinformation, and what he said is not right, so he is misleading the public.
“But Oheneba did not peddle lies on anybody… What he said, you may disagree with him, but the police have called him to the headquarters. If what Oheneba said demands arrest, then Sammy Gyamfi of the NDC must also be arrested for accusing a military high command of election rigging. Sammy Gyamfi has peddled such lies and circulated the military officer's pictures. Is this not worse than misinformation or disinformation?”
He continued, “I am not hypocritical about what Oheneba said. I believe next time he won’t say that again, but it is not injurious—anything that should get him arrested. So, what about NDC people walking around and claiming that Côte d'Ivoire sells one bag of cocoa for 7,000 and comparing it to Ghana’s own? Is that not disinformation? Why won’t you talk about it?
“Okay, so John Mahama—don’t you arrest John Mahama for claiming that he brought Free SHS? Why don’t you arrest him because that is also disinformation, pure lies?
“For me, with these elections that we are heading towards, I will plead with the police to ensure fairness. Whatever they do to one party, the same thing should be done to the other party. I saw NDC sympathizers calling for the arrest of Oheneba… so if the police allow the NDC to influence their decision, then this year all won’t be well. So they should be careful. If what Oheneba said is disinformation, then arrest Sammy Gyamfi as well.”
The police have arrested Oheneba after extending an invitation to him over the claim that on December 7, 2024, the election would be held for the first people on the ballot paper, including the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who is number 1 on the ballot paper.
“Dr. Bawumia is number one on the ballot, so on 7th December we are going to vote for him first. We are going to vote for the first 7 people on the ballot, then after that, we will vote for the remaining 7, from numbers 8, 9, 10, and 11 going,” he said in Twi.
Nana Asiedu even suggested that any person who fails to vote for Dr. Bawumia on Saturday, December 7, 2024, would not get the chance to vote for the other people in the subsequent days.
“So, on 7th December we are going to vote for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, and maybe the next day or two days after, we would vote for the number 2 on the ballot, then we move to number 3, and on a different day, we would vote for number 4. This is going to be the trend.
“Because we are going to vote for the first 7 people on the ballot first, that is why we are going to vote on 7th December... If you don’t vote when it is Dr. Bawumia’s turn on 7th December, you will not get the chance to vote when it gets to the turn of the other people on the ballot. The police and Electoral Commission officers would not give you the chance to vote,” he added.
Background
At a media engagement on Sunday, July 7, John Dramani Mahama refuted allegations that he is against Free SHS.
He argued that as someone who started Free SHS with the implementation of progressive Free SHS, he is for any policy that improves education in Ghana.
On the other hand, the NDC held a press conference on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, claiming to expose a sinister agenda led by Brigadier General Michael Opoku, General Officer Commanding Central Command of the Ghana Armed Forces, to rig the 2024 general election in favour of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Despite not providing supporting evidence, the National Communications Director of the NDC, Sammy Gyamfi, made several alarming allegations against the senior-ranking member of the Ghana Armed Forces.
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