In a heated response to recent declarations by Bryan Acheampong, Member of Parliament for Abetifi and Food and Agriculture Minister, Tamale Central MP Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed has vowed that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will fiercely resist any attempts by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to manipulate the upcoming 2024 elections.
Speaking at a campaign rally in Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Acheampong asserted that the NPP is prepared to employ all necessary means to secure victory in the December elections, even boasting of the party’s wide-ranging support from pastors, imams, and traditionalists. “Burn the sea if you don’t understand, we’ll win and continue with our good works,” Acheampong boldly proclaimed, suggesting that the NPP is an unstoppable election-winning force.
However, Murtala Mohammed has sharply criticized these remarks, labeling them as reckless and dangerous. He warned that such inflammatory statements could lead to significant trouble during the elections. “This is not the first time such irresponsible statements have come from Bryan Acheampong and other leading members of the NPP. Instead of focusing on issues, they are using religion, ethnicity, and other divisive tactics to win the election,” Murtala Mohammed said.
The NDC lawmaker emphasized that his party will do everything in its power to prevent any rigging attempts by the NPP, stressing that the stakes in the upcoming polls are too high to allow any form of electoral manipulation. “Insha Allah, we will also do everything possible to prevent the NPP from rigging this election,” he affirmed.
Murtala Mohammed also expressed concern over the silence of religious leaders and other major stakeholders, who have not condemned the incendiary language used by members of the NPP. “The dead silence of religious leaders, civil society organizations, and chiefs in this country is legendary. If this reckless statement had come from an NDC member, they would have been up in arms, condemning us from the rooftops,” he lamented.
As Ghana heads towards another critical election, experts have warned against the use of intemperate language, which could incite violence and disrupt the democratic process. The West Africa Centre for Counter-Extremism has also urged political parties to maintain decorum and refrain from divisive rhetoric.
The December elections are expected to be a significant test of Ghana’s democratic resilience, with stakeholders calling for clear guidelines and vigilant oversight to ensure a credible and peaceful electoral process.
