Prez’s Office accused of deploying 11,000 Rounds of Ammo
The Akufo-Addo administration has opted to utilize military might in preparation for the forthcoming elections this Saturday by deploying a platoon of heavily armed soldiers equipped with wartime munitions and other formidable weapons.
This revelation stems from a confidential document obtained by The New Republic. The government has mobilized three consecutive troop movements comprising over three platoons, totaling approximately 150 soldiers.
These troops will be under the command of Brig. Gen. Malik Puanamane, a prominent pro-NPP military figure.
Brig. Gen. Malik Puanamane, previously promoted from Colonel to Brigadier General by President Akufo-Addo, made headlines when he, as the Commander of the presidential troops, led a controversial incursion into parliament on January 6, 2021, in an attempt to disrupt the election of Alban Bagbin as Speaker of Parliament.
While official statements suggest the soldiers are being deployed for peaceful purposes, their provision with substantial ammunition raises concerns.
Deploying such a large number of military personnel is typically reserved for wartime scenarios or national crisis management.
Of note is the composition of the deployed soldiers, primarily Akans, a move criticized as part of an ethnocentric agenda to Akanize the military under Akufo-Addo’s leadership.
Some key individuals include Capt. SA Adoctar of the ABF, Sgt Adu-Gyamfi Charles of the 64 Infantry Regiment, and L/Cpl Mensah George Amankrah of the 6th Battalion, among others.
Furthermore, 11,000 rounds of ammunition, valued at two million Ghana Cedis, have been transferred from the armed forces’ arsenal to the national security agency mere days before the pivotal December 7th, 2024 elections.
On December 3, 2024, the Ghana Armed Forces unexpectedly cleared 26 TIGRAN Armoured Fighting Vehicles at the Tema Port, typically used for combating insurgents and violent extremist groups.
The rapid clearance and distribution of these vehicles without adhering to standard protocols has raised suspicions among observers. Notably, eight of the vehicles are being deployed to Kumasi under the leadership of Brig Gen MK Opoku, known for orchestrating disturbances in Ayawaso West Wuogon.
Additionally, four vehicles are headed to Takoradi under the command of Lt Col Osae, allegedly deploying soldiers clandestinely using civilian vehicles.
Four vehicles are assigned to the Army Commander, a former Aide De Camp to President Akufo-Addo, and six vehicles to Lt Col Owusu Afriyie at the 5th Battalion in Accra, implicated in intimidating perceived opponents.
The remaining half-dozen vehicles will fall under the supervision of Lt Col Theophilus Fosu Appiah, the Commanding Officer of the 64 Infantry Regiment and reputed favorite of Maj Gen Aphour and the Army Commander.