The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has condemned what it described as a deliberate disinformation campaign orchestrated by the New Patriotic Party (NPP), aimed at misleading personnel of Ghana’s state security services in the run-up to the December 7, 2024, general elections.
In a press statement signed by its National Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi Esq, the NDC accused the NPP of attempting to manipulate security personnel with fabricated stories designed to create mistrust between the NDC and the country’s armed forces.
According to the party, the disinformation campaign includes false publications and doctored documents aimed at creating fear among the security forces that the NDC will dismiss new recruits and review all appointments within the security services if it wins the upcoming elections.
“One of such fabricated stories is a widely circulated memo attributed to the General Secretary of the NDC, in which it is falsely claimed that the NDC will cancel enlistments and appointments into all state security services and dismiss all new recruits when the party assumes the reins of government in 2025.
“Another one of such concocted publications is a flier with the logo of a fake news account of the NPP, ‘NEWSGH360’, which bears the image of H.E. John Dramani Mahama and the inscription, ‘NDC PLANS TO CONDUCT A FORENSIC AUDIT AND REVIEW OF ALL APPOINTMENTS MADE TO STATE SECURITY SERVICES SINCE 2017”.
Sammy Gyamfi Esq, NDC National Communications Officer
Lawyer Sammy Gyamfi strongly pointed out that these publications are utterly false and should be treated with the contempt they deserve, asserting that neither the General Secretary of the NDC nor its flagbearer, former President John Dramani Mahama, has made or authorized such statements.
“These are fabrications designed to mislead our hard-working security services”, he remarked. The National Communications Officer of the NDC also drew attention to the resurfacing of a 2020 video, which was originally part of a press conference addressed by him.
In the video, Lawyer Sammy Gyamfi noted that the NDC condemned acts of violence against its supporters by individuals wearing military uniforms during the 2020 voter registration exercise in Banda.
However, he argued that the NPP has recirculated this video, misrepresenting its contents in an attempt to falsely portray the NDC as being hostile towards the entire security service.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the statements contained in the said 2020 video, were not in any way directed at our noble men and women in uniform. Rather, they were directed at those NPP hoodlums who were clothed in military uniforms and were captured on tape beating innocent civilians including NDC supporters during the 2020 voter registration exercise in Banda.”
Sammy Gyamfi Esq, NDC National Communications Officer
Respect for Ghana’s Security Personnel
The NDC reaffirmed its respect for and commitment to the security personnel of Ghana, stating that it recognizes their professionalism, patriotism, and hard work in safeguarding the nation.
The party emphasized that it had no intention of victimizing or dismissing any security officers and urged security personnel and the public to disregard the malicious publications from the NPP.
“Seeing defeat staring them in the face, with few days to the crucial 2024 general elections, the desperate NPP has resorted to the spreading of fake news to mislead unsuspecting members of the public.”
Sammy Gyamfi Esq, NDC National Communications Officer
The NDC also urged the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to conduct a prompt investigation into the origins of these fake publications and hold the perpetrators accountable.
The party asserted that the sources of these malicious stories are well known to the public, including the Ghana Police, and called for swift action to bring them to justice.
As the December elections approach, Lawyer Sammy Gymafi warned the public about the NPP’s campaign of disinformation and its attempts to manipulate public opinion through falsehoods.
He called for greater vigilance among the media and the general public to prevent the spread of misleading information that could undermine the integrity of the election process.
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