Dr. Stephen Opuni, the Executive Director of Food and Drugs Board, has disputed claims by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) that he and some functionaries of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) are plotting Election Day mayhem in NPP strongholds.
In an interview with Joy News on Monday, he suggested that such allegations could only be made by a mentally challenged person.
Dr Opuni was responding to comments by Lt Colonel (rtd.) Ababio Srebour, the head of the NPP Security Committee, who alleged that certain NDC members are stockpiling arms with the intent to create chaos in Friday polls.
He reported that that the NPP’s intelligence uncovered evidence that Yaw Boateng Gyan, the National Organiser of the NDC, as well as Dr. Opuni and others are training personnel from around the country to destabilize elections in areas loyal to the NPP. He pointed out that the people supporting this nefarious and clandestine training are obligated by the constitution to protect the people.
He also claimed the NDC has tasked persons with heavy duty vehicles to run over any vehicle covered with or hoisting NPP paraphernalia and that about 500 boxes of ballot papers have been hidden in the residence of a doctor at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
He further alleged that NDC operatives procured fake indelible ink to encourage multiple voting and that a medical doctor at the Dansoman Polyclinic and his cousin have been tasked to recruit Kokomba boys from the Northern Region to spread confusion in Kumasi.
He also claimed that utility operators are plotting a nationwide blackout at exactly 7pm on Election Day when results are being collated.
Mr Srebour therefore called on all Ghanaians, especially the police and NPP functionaries, to be vigilant and safeguard the integrity of the elections.
Reacting to these allegations, Dr Opuni questioned Srebour’s sanity on the grounds that it is only the Ghana Armed Forces that trains soldiers.
“Soldiers are trained by the military, so may be that person who said this lost his way from the psychiatric hospital, and we should look for him and send him back for psychiatric evaluation and treatment.”
Dr Opuni believes that the NPP is resorting to such allegations because they know they have lost the election in advance due to the popularity of President John Mahama and the NDC’s Better Ghana Agenda.
Touching on apparently threatening text messages sent to him by NPP MP Mathew Opoku Prempeh, Dr Opuni said that upon receiving the first message, he tried to call Opoku Prempeh for clarification but his calls were rejected.
He said he later received another text message from the same person allegedly threatening his life and those of his family.
Dr Opuni said that he has reported the issue to the police because it is a criminal offence to threaten somebody.
Source:Myjoyonline
