Former Chief of Defence Staff, Brig. Gen. Joseph Nunoo-Mensah (Rtd), is reported to have expressed concerns about the potential for violence in the upcoming 2024 election.
He is said to have noted that he had a dream about war in the country during the previous election two years ago, and recent comments made by Member of Parliament for Abetifi and Minister for Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, have further heightened his apprehensions.
During an interview on the Happy Morning Show (HMS) with Samuel Eshun, Brig. Gen. Joseph Nunoo-Mensah is alleged to have stated that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) appears determined to wrest power from the New Patriotic Party (NPP), adding to the tension surrounding the election.
“I don’t think we are going to have peaceful elections in this country. I’m just saying what this man [Bryan Acheampong] told you which I dreamt about two years ago. The NDC is hell-bent on wrestling power from the NPP,” Daily News Ghana quoted him to have said.
“If someone is hell-bent and you are not giving it to them what will happen? Is it not war?” he questioned the host.
He added “I have dreamt about it and it’s going to happen. You don’t have to be a pastor or a prophet to Forecast some of these things.”
In 2023, Mr. Bryan Acheampong addressed party supporters in Mpraeso, stating that the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) would not hand over power to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in 2025. The former Minister of State in Charge of National Security emphasized that the NPP would do everything possible to remain in power.
“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 emphasize]. 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 remains in government at all costs,” he said.
Following Bryan Acheampong’s remarks, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) called on the Ghana Police Service to immediately arrest and prosecute him for comments they deemed reckless and treasonable.
In contrast, Abuakwa South MP, Samuel Atta Akyea, came to Acheampong’s defense, describing his remark about the NPP not handing over power to the NDC in 2025 as political talk.