According to former president John Dramani Mahama, his opponents misrepresented his "do-or-die" remark.
He added that his remark does not imply that members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will use violence during the next elections.
The 2024 general election is not a joke, which is why I stated it is "do or die," Mr. Mahama said in a speech to NDC members in the Fanteakwa South Constituency in the Eastern Region on Wednesday.
Others have misinterpreted the phrase "do-or-die" to mean that we plan to assault people with machetes, but that is not the case. To win the elections at any costs, we must put in a lot of effort. It does not imply that we will attack individuals with machetes.
His remarks come as the National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Henry Nana Boakye, also known as Nana B, has petitioned the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to detain Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the National Chairman of the NDC, and the 2020 Presidential Candidate for making allegedly treasonous remarks.
The NPP said that Mr. Mahama had frequently stated that the 2024 general elections would be a matter of "do or die" for the NDC.
The NDC has consistently used violence and intimidation against their opponents during the conduct of national elections, and this was most shown by their presumed presidential candidate for 2024, John Dramani Mahama, according to the party. He has categorically asserted that "NDC has a revolutionary foundation and that nobody can defeat us [NDC] in unleashing violence."
The governing party also said: “Other leading members of the NDC, including Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the national chairman of the Party, have made similar threatening and malicious comments. Indeed, following his election as National Chairman, Asiedu Nketiah stated in his victory speech that, the NDC would fight the 2024 general elections to win a second independence for Ghana, and that, they are prepared to sacrifice everything including their lives for an NDC victory.”
Abraham Amaliba, the NDC's director of legal affairs, has also asked the IGP to detain Bryan Acheampong, the minister of agriculture.
In the petition dated April 11, 2023, Mr Amaliba said: “That Your Petitioner says that the said Hon Bryan Acheampong continued to say that they — NPP will show the NDC that the NPP have the men, and that the NPP will do everything possible — fair or foul means to remain in power come what may in the 2024 general elections. I enclose herein, audios and videos of the utterances of Hon Bryan Acheampong for your perusal.
“That in the estimation of Your Petitioner and those of the general public, the statements uttered by Hon Bryan Acheampong could be interpreted to mean that the NPP has conceived a grand scheme to subvert the will of the people of Ghana in the 2024 elections and any attempt to resist them would be met with violence.
“Your Petitioner wishes to remind you of Hon Bryan Acheampong’s unilateral and illegal deployment of NPP hoodlums garbed in National Security Operatives uniforms to assault the Hon Sam Dzata George, innocent electorates and maimed some NDC supporters in the Ayawaso West Wuogon By-elections.“
Your Petitioner says that given the infamous and unenviable track record of Hon Bryan Acheampong in organising NPP hoodlums to unleash violence on Ghanaians, his statements on the 8th day of April, 2023 border on national security threats and democracy and should not be taken lightly.”
Members of the NPP had received assurances from Bryan Acheampong that the economy will improve.
He claimed that the government was trying to reach an agreement with the IMF.
He expressed hope that the deal would be finalized by June of this year, which would result in an uptick in the economy.
Speaking to members of the NPP in Kwahu after a health walk on Saturday, April 8, the Abetifi lawmaker said “NDC party will collapse. If the NDC dares to use threats, Violence and foolishness in the 2024 election we will let them know we have the men. We will show them that we have the men. We have the men.
“It will never happen that we the NPP will stand on a platform to hand over power to the NDC. It will never happen! We will make sure NPP remain in government at all cost”.
The former Minister of State in Charge of National Security added “Now with the way things are changing the economy will bounce back again, I am telling you that we are going to come around that curve and we are going to win the 2024 elections hands down.”