Busted: Bryan Acheampong’s plans to use Military to intimidate Voters exposed

The Minority in Parliament has strongly opposed the government’s decision to deploy the military to enforce a ban on grain exportation at the country’s borders. They argue that the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, is using the food situation as a pretext to intimidate and suppress voters in NDC strongholds ahead of the December 7 elections.

In a press statement, the NDC legislators expressed concerns over the deployment, questioning its necessity and raising suspicions about its true intent. They recalled similar military deployments in the Volta and Oti regions during the 2020 elections, which they claim were part of a strategy to deter eligible voters.

“The Minority recalls that in the run-up to the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections, the Akufo-Addo/ Bawumia government heavily deployed the country’s military, particularly in the Volta and Oti regions, as part of a carefully orchestrated strategy that scared eligible voters from exercising their franchise.” They stated.

The NDC Members of Parliament criticized the lack of evidence provided by the Minister for Food and Agriculture and the Defence Minister to justify the military’s involvement, arguing that immigration and customs services are capable of enforcing the ban. They also questioned Bryan Acheampong’s credibility, citing his previous statements against the NDC.

The statement said “Bryan Acheampong, who made the border closure announcement, is the very person who has declared time and again to do everything to wreck the chances of the NDC to win the December 7, 2024 election, hence lacks the moral uprightness and credibility required in the situation to deploy troops at this crucial time. “

The Minority urged development partners to support a credible task force of experts to address the food situation and cautioned the government against using the military to undermine democratic rights. They emphasized their willingness to support genuine efforts to address the food shortage but warned against initiatives aimed at misappropriating state funds.

“Knowing the playbook of the NPP convinces us that the knee-jerk measures were primarily motivated by the opportunity as they see it for chop-chop a la COVID-19 and using the food situation as a pretext to deploy the military in areas known as NDC strongholds to intimate and suppress voters ahead of the December 7 elections.” the statement noted.

The NDC Members of Parliament called for broad stakeholder engagement and a reconsideration of the military deployment, particularly in NDC strongholds.

By Derick Botsyoe || Ghananewsonline.com.gh