Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mustafa Gbande, has made a controversial statement, asking Ghanaians to arm themselves with guns and machetes when they go to vote in the 2024 general elections.
He said that this was the only way to ensure free and fair elections and to prevent the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) from intimidating and harassing the voters.
He made these remarks on Okay FM’s ‘Ade Akye Abia’ programme, where he said that he had advised the NDC leadership to prepare in advance for the NPP’s anticipated alleged misdoings.
“They think the way to go is violence, so I’ve told our leaders that if possible, let’s prepare twice the NPP and wait for them, when you are going to the polling station, put a cutlass in your pocket, that way nobody will misbehave towards you. If we do, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) will not be able to misbehave toward us,” he said.
He also claimed that some members of parliament had used guns and military men to disrupt the district level elections in their constituencies, and that he would not allow people to be killed like they were in the 2020 general elections.
“We have records of some members of parliament who went to their constituencies with military men to disrupt the district level elections and we will not allow people to be killed just like they did in the 2020 general elections,” he said.
He further warned the Electoral Commission to reverse its decision to abandon the use of indelible inks during voting, saying that it would compromise the credibility of the elections.
“If the Electoral Commission wants to have a peaceful, free and fair elections, they should rescind that decision,” he cautioned.
His statement has sparked a lot of reactions and criticisms from the public and the political parties, who have condemned his call for violence and lawlessness.
