The opposition National Democratic Congress (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.
1. Appointed as General Commanding Officer as promotion for leading Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election violence
During the press conference, Sammy Gyamfi referenced the indicting report by the Emil Short Commission, which investigated the bloody January 2021 Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election. He alleged that despite the Commission's recommendations, Brigadier General Michael Opoku was promoted by the president to a higher position.
According to the NDC, his promotion from Colonel to Brigadier General was a reward for leading the violence during the by-election in 2021.
"Sadly but unsurprisingly, President Akufo-Addo, under whose leadership the said atrocities were committed by Colonel Opoku and his bandits, rejected the findings of the Commission in his infamous white paper. To add insult to injury, President Akufo-Addo and the NPP have now promoted this man to the high rank of Brigadier General and rewarded him with the position of General Commanding Officer of the Central Command of the Ghana Armed Forces. This is what has emboldened him to further champion yet another election rigging scheme through violence," he alleged.
2. Mandated to rig 2020 Elections
Sammy Gyamfi alleged that Brigadier General Michael Opoku has been given explicit orders by President Akufo-Addo and the current NPP government to rig the upcoming general election in return for further promotion.
According to the NDC, the General Commanding Officer has been promised the position of Chief of Defence Staff if he is able to see through the agenda. He is alleged to have since relocated his family outside the country.
"In his current position, Brigadier General Michael Opoku has been mandated by President Akufo-Addo to take charge of a well-crafted scheme designed by the NPP to rig the upcoming general elections, particularly in the Ashanti Region, through ballot stuffing, swapping of ballot boxes, swapping of pink sheets, and other clandestine activities starting with the special voting exercise scheduled for December 2 of this year.
"Having relocated his family to the United Kingdom, Brigadier General Michael Opoku has vowed to do all it takes to carry out his shady election rigging plot in exchange for the position of Chief of Defence Staff in the unlikely event that the NPP wins the 2024 elections," he stated.
3. Training of NPP thugs at Asutuare
The NDC also alleged that Brigadier General Michael Opoku is leading the training of hardened NPP thugs at the Asutuare Training Camp of the Ghana Armed Forces to execute the rigging agenda during the election.
"The NDC has received reliable intel to the effect that Brigadier General Michael Opoku is responsible for the training of NPP thugs at Asutuare Military Camp and other places, and he plans to clothe these bandits in military apparel to unleash violence on NDC agents, supporters, and innocent civilians on December 7, 2024, and December 2, 2024, the special voting day," he said.
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4. Storage of weapons and election rigging materials
The NDC alleged that a residence belonging to the senior military officer in the Ashanti Region, the NPP's stronghold, is currently housing a cache of weapons and various materials intended for use in rigging the 2024 elections for the NPP.
"Per our credible intel, Brigadier General Opoku's residence in Kumasi is currently the storage facility of weapons, illegally printed ballot papers, military apparel, and other election materials which the NPP intends to use to execute these dastardly and subversive agendas," he stated.
He underscored that the NDC, in the coming days, will petition the Inspector General of the Ghana Police Service, who leads election security, and the Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces as well as the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to investigate their claims against Brigadier General Michael Opoku.
NDC’s response to evidence question
Following his reading of the press statement, Sammy Gyamfi was questioned by a journalist on the lack of evidence provided in support of the allegations made against Brigadier General Michael Opoku.
"The Akans have an adage that says that if the man who chews a calabash says he will chew a crab, you don't have to argue with him because there isn't much of a difference between a crab and a calabash. We have shown you the track record of the man we are talking about, Brigadier General Opoku. You all saw what happened at Ayawaso West Wuogon.
“It was the first time in the history of Ghana that we saw so-called National Security operatives wearing masks, armed to the teeth with sophisticated weapons, brazenly and openly assaulting innocent unarmed civilians, maiming people. Today there are some people (victims) who can't walk. They have suffered lifetime deformities because of the brutalities meted out to them by those NPP hoodlums. And you heard the confession of the man; he said he takes responsibility.
"The Emil Short Commission found him liable for those atrocities and recommended that he should be reprimanded. Are you not worried that the president did not implement that recommendation? In what country can a man like that receive promotion from Colonel to Brigadier General? In what country can a man like this be rewarded after maiming people, brutalising people, with the position of General Officer Commanding of the Central Command? In what country? His mere appointment is a scandal because this is a man who should be facing sanctions instead of promotion.
"As for evidence, these matters are based on credible intelligence we have picked. We know what we are talking about. Unfortunately, the NPP is in office, so they will not allow for a search to be conducted in the presence of the media at his residence. But the media, you have reporters in Kumasi. If he has nothing to hide, he should open his doors today for you to go and check if he has nothing to hide," Sammy Gyamfi said.
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