The main opposition National Democratic Congress says it has received “reliable” intelligence to the effect that the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Central Command of the Ghana Armed Forces, Brigadier-General Michael Opoku, “is responsible for the training of New Patriotic Party thugs at Asutsuare Military camp and other places who he plans to clothe in military apparel to unleash violence on NDC agents and supporters on voting day.”

At a press conference on Tuesday, 19 November 2024, the NDC’s National Communication Officer Sammy Gyamfi told journalists: “The NDC acknowledges and commends personnel in our security agencies who work tirelessly to protect our dear nation and are determined to protect the votes of suffering Ghanaians,” but noted: “Sadly, unlike the many professional and noble men and women in Ghana’s security agencies, Brigadier-General Opoku has turned himself into a rabid NPP functionary who openly mobilizes funds from businessmen for the New Patriotic Party.”

Mr Gyamfi said: “Having relocated his family to the United Kingdom, Brigadier-General Opoku has vowed to do all it takes to carry out this shady election-rigging plot of the NPP in exchange for the position Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) in the unlikely event that the NPP wins the 2024 elections.”

“In his current position, Brigadier-General Opoku has been mandated by President Akufo-Addo to take charge of a well-crafted scheme that has been designed by the New Patriotic Party to rig the upcoming election, 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 2nd,” Mr Gyamfi noted.

The party says Brig-Gen Opoku was inducted into his current position in July so he can carry out the “calculated” rigging plot.

“The name of this man must ring a bell to Ghanaians as he is the person who masterminded the mayhem and brutalities inflicted on innocent Ghanaians during the infamous Ayawaso West Wugon bye-elections on January 31, 2019,” Mr Gyamfi recalled, adding: “As Director of Operations at the National Security Secretariat, Colonel Michael Kwadwo Opoku, as he was then known, commandeered and unleashed NPP thugs, including 'Double' to attack innocent civilians. You will recall, that many innocent Ghanaians were shot, brutalised and maimed. Not even the sitting Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Hon. Samuel Nartey George was spared by the NPP thugs acting under the guise of National Security.”

He added that when Col Michael Opoku, as he was then known, appeared before the Emile Short Commission after the incident, “admitted that the masked NPP bandits who attacked and maimed innocent civilians did so under his express instructions. “

“It is instructive to note, that the Short Commission placed ultimate liability on this military officer who is the subject of this press conference. The Commission recommended that he be reprimanded ‘for being ultimately responsible for the outcome of the SWAT operation at the La Bawaleshie School Polling Station’,” noting “sadly but unsurprisingly,” that “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, he has now been promoted to the high rank of Brigadier-General and rewarded with the position of General Officer Commanding of the Central Command of the Ghana Armed Forces. This is what has further emboldened him to champion yet another election rigging scheme.”