Security analyst Retired Colonel Festus Aboagye has expressed concern over the lack of action from state authorities in response to serious security allegations made by Ghana’s major political parties in the lead-up to the 2024 elections.
Aboagye’s remarks follow claims made by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on November 19, which accused Brigadier General Michael Opoku, General Officer Commanding of the Ghana Armed Forces’ Central Command, of working with the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to manipulate the elections in the Ashanti Region.
In response, the NPP has alleged that the NDC is attempting to incite violence in the region, allegedly with the support of retired Commissioner of Police Kofi Boakye.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Cituation Room, Col. Aboagye stressed the importance of conducting an immediate investigation into these serious allegations to preserve peace and credibility ahead of the elections. He cautioned that the failure to act could erode public confidence, particularly in light of Ghana’s history of political interference in key systems, including elections.
The retired colonel called on important state institutions, such as the Ministry of the Interior and the Ghana Armed Forces, to swiftly address these concerns to maintain public trust and ensure a peaceful and credible electoral process.
“If any person or institution makes an allegation, it behoves the state to investigate the allegations. It is more than 48 hours since the NDC alleged specifically that a certain senior officer and the commander of the Central Command are storing weapons and ballot papers and he is collaborating with a political party to rig the election in the Ashanti Region and elsewhere.
“It is about 24 hours ago since the NPP rebutted and also advanced its own allegation. The authorities have not spoken. The Ministries of the Interior, National Security, and the Ghana Armed Forces haven’t spoken. Because that security officer is under the command of the CDS.
“If the state keeps quiet and it does not distance itself from the party that it comes from, (the ruling party) and add like and constitutionally established body, to look into these matters, we are only preparing ourselves for more disaster,” he stated.
