The New Patriotic Party (NPP), now in opposition, has issued a warning to the government against deploying soldiers to Akwatia for the upcoming by-election on September 2, 2025.
Richard Ahiagba, the party’s Communications Director, stated that any military personnel sent to the constituency would be considered and treated as thugs. He made this statement at a press conference on Wednesday, August 27, 2025.
He specifically urged President John Dramani Mahama, the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, to prevent the deployment of soldiers. He also called on the President to caution Richard Japka, who works at the National Security, against interfering in the area or sending in troops.
The NPP’s stance is based on assurances from Inspector General of Police (IGP) Christian Tetteh Yohonu.
He emphasised, “Based on the IGP’s assurance, we want to make it unequivocally clear that any soldier involved in the Akwatia by-election will be regarded and dealt with as a thug. Therefore, we call on the President, who bears the ultimate responsibility for state security, to restrain Richard Jakpa and ensure no soldier meddles in the Akwatia by-election.”
Additionally, Mr Ahiagba claimed that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is currently training individuals who were allegedly involved in the Ablekuma North election rerun. According to him, these individuals are being trained under the pretense of being national security operatives and will be dressed in police uniforms on election day.
The NPP national officer asserted that the party is well-informed about the NDC’s activities, stating, “We have also received credible information that the NDC is training some of the thugs they used in the Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun under the guise of national security and plans to secretly put them in police uniforms for deployment during the by-election. The NDC and the Ghana Police Service should be aware that as a party that only recently left government, we have eyes and ears on the ground and are watching them, given what the NDC is known for.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
