Majority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament (MP) for Nsawam/Adoagyiri Constituency in the Eastern Region, Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh has affirmed the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP's) full support for Minister of Food and Agriculture Bryan Acheampong's recent remarks on the NPP's commitment to retaining power at all costs, despite concerns over potential national security implications.

Mr Acheampong, who is also a former Minister of State in Charge of National Security, made this assertion when he addressed party supporters at Mpraeso on Saturday, 8th April 2023 and emphasised the party’s resolve to never hand over power to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) by any means necessary.

“NDC party will collapse. If the NDC dares to use threats, Violence, and foolishness in the 2024 election, we will let them know we have the men. We will show them that we have the men. We have the men![He screamed to emphasise]. It will never happen that we the NPP will stand on a platform to hand over power to the NDC. It will never happen! We will make sure NPP remain in government at all cost”.

He also stressed his party’s ability to develop the nation by citing how the government's recent economic interventions have started yielding positive results, reflecting in the stabilisation of the cedi and the reduction in fuel prices.

While several Ghanaians and members of the opposition have condemned Mr Acheampong’s statement, his party however, is full support of his sentiments.

In a Facebook post addressing Mr Acheampong’s critics and those calling for his restraint in addressing such issues as the general elections approach, Mr Annoh-Dompreh expressed total support for his fellow party member and asked all critics to “leave Bryan alone”.

He accused the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) of hypocrisy in their criticisms.

This is because the NDC in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Fifi Kwetey, directly addressing Mr Acheampong’s comments, chided the MP for his unfortunate words and accused the NPP of attempting to subvert the will of the people in 2024, and assured that the NDC will also do everything possible within its power to protect the democratic will and the sovereignty of the Ghanaian people.

“The NDC, a party that both in the years 2001 and 2017, handed power to NPP when the people of Ghana voted for the NPP, wants to assure Ghanaians that we SHALL DO EVERYTHING that is necessary to protect the democratic will and the sovereignty of the Ghanaian people. We wish to assure the good people of Ghana of our resolve and readiness to do whatever is necessary to preserve the democratic will of the people – even at the peril of our lives. The supreme will of the Ghanaian electorate will be manifested come December 7, 2024.”

In rebuttal, the NPP also dismissed the NDC’s concerns and accused them of having ill-founded and hypocritical motives and thriving on diabolic propaganda with an ill attempt to emotionally blackmail Ghanaians in furtherance of their selfish political interest.

This is not the first time a Ghanaian politician has used strong statements to describe their party's resilience.

The NPP cited similar statements by former President John Dramani Mahama and the NDC National Chairman, Asiedu Nketiah in previous years and expressed how as such, the NDC has no moral right to condemn or attack Bryan Acheampong.

“If anybody has to be arrested by the Police for treasonable comments, then certainly it is John Dramani Mahama for his continuous “Do or die for the NDC” in reference to the 2024 general elections, and Asidedu Nketiah for his brazen proclamation that members of the NDC are willing to sacrifice their lives to win the 2024 elections.

The use of such strong language in Ghanaian politics is unfortunately common. However, as the country approaches the 2024 general elections, the use of such rhetoric has the potential to compromise national security. It is crucial for all political parties to demonstrate restraint in their language and actions to ensure a peaceful and fair electoral process.

Source: The Independent Ghana