The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called on President John Dramani Mahama to take immediate action against Richard Jakpa, Director of Operations at the National Security Secretariat, over alleged attempts to use military personnel to intimidate voters ahead of the Akwatia by-election.
Addressing the media in Accra on Wednesday, August 27, NPP Director of Communications Richard Ahiagbah accused the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) of orchestrating a plot to deploy military presence in the Akwatia constituency under the guise of national security.
“The NPP has very reliable intelligence that the NDC intends to hide behind the veil of national security to intimidate residents and voters in Akwatia during the by-election,” Ahiagbah alleged.
He further claimed that despite assurances from the Inspector General of Police (IGP) that the Ghana Police Service is fully capable of maintaining order without military support, soldiers have been spotted in the area under Jakpa’s command.
“Richard Jakpa, who now serves as Director of Operations at National Security, has been seen moving through the constituency with soldiers and reportedly threatening residents to leave town ahead of the election,” Ahiagbah stated.
According to him, the police have committed to deploying 5,000 officers to ensure peace during the by-election, rendering any military involvement unnecessary and potentially destabilizing.
“Let it be known that any soldier found interfering in the Akwatia by-election will be treated as a thug,” he warned.
Ahiagbah concluded with a direct appeal to President Mahama, urging him to act swiftly as the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces.
“We call on the President to rein in Richard Jakpa and ensure that the military does not meddle in the Akwatia by-election,” he emphasized.
The by-election, scheduled for Tuesday, September 2, has become a high-stakes contest, with both the NPP and NDC trading accusations of attempts to manipulate or intimidate the electorate. The police have confirmed that specially trained personnel will be deployed to maintain security and ensure a peaceful voting process.
