The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused Brigadier-General Michael Opoku, the General Officer Commanding the Central Command of the Ghana Armed Forces, of leading a plot to rig the upcoming December 7 elections in favor of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Addressing a press conference on November 19, NDC Communications Officer Sammy Gyamfi alleged that Brigadier-General Opoku is coordinating a scheme involving ballot stuffing, swapping of election materials, and intimidation of opposition supporters. The party also claimed he has been training operatives disguised in military apparel at the Asutsuare Military Camp to disrupt voting processes and suppress opposition participation.
According to the NDC, Brigadier-General Opoku has relocated his family to the UK in anticipation of being rewarded with a promotion to Chief of Defense Staff if the NPP retains power. They further alleged that his Kumasi residence has been turned into a storage hub for weapons, military uniforms, and illegally printed ballot papers intended for the alleged rigging operation.
Brigadier-General Opoku’s controversial past also resurfaced, with the NDC referencing his involvement in the violent Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election in 2019. As then-Director of Operations at the National Security Secretariat, he reportedly authorized the deployment of armed operatives who attacked and brutalized civilians, an incident condemned by the Emile Short Commission.
The NDC expressed concerns over his continued role in the security architecture ahead of the polls and demanded his immediate removal. “A person with such a notorious record has no place in our security setup as Ghanaians prepare for violence-free elections,” Gyamfi stated.
The party also called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Chief of Defence Staff, and the Elections Security Task Force to investigate the allegations and ensure that the elections are conducted fairly and peacefully. They warned against any attempts to subvert the will of the people, stating that elections are about “counting heads, not cutting heads.”
Reaffirming its confidence in a resounding victory for former President John Dramani Mahama, the NDC urged Ghanaians to remain vigilant and resolute in safeguarding democracy. The party described the upcoming elections as a choice between “an honest, experienced leader” and what it termed the NPP’s “dangerous experiment” under Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
With barely three weeks to the polls, the NDC assured the public of its readiness to monitor and expose any acts aimed at undermining Ghana’s democratic process.
