Why Mahama Must Take The Threat Of NPP’s Rigging 2028 Elections Seriously

I am a Ghanaian writer who is not affiliated with any political party. My loyalty is to Ghana alone, to the hope of returning home one day to a country with a stable economy, functioning institutions, and a future worth fighting for. Tribalism, greed, Agyapadie governance, money laundering, state looting, and widespread corruption have weakened our nation to its bones.

This is why I continue to write: to help Ghanaians understand how dangerous the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has become to the survival of our democracy. The NPP calls itself the New Patriotic Party, but its actions over the past eight years reveal something different. The party presided over one of the most destructive periods in Ghana’s history, collapsing institutions, bankrupting state agencies, and enabling corruption on a scale never witnessed before.

In reality, the NPP behaved more like the National Plundering Party, a political machine built on looting, impunity, and the normalization of wrongdoing. What makes the situation even more troubling is the party’s refusal to show remorse. Instead of admitting failure, apologizing, or demonstrating empathy toward Ghanaians who suffered under their governance, the NPP continues to speak with arrogance.

Their leaders openly boast that they will “win the 2028 elections by any means,” a statement many Ghanaians interpret as a threat of electoral manipulation. Under former President Akufo‑Addo, the party normalized the idea that political power is something to be seized, not earned. This is the same party that collapsed the economy so severely that Ghana’s embassy accounts in Brussels were frozen due to money laundering concerns.

It is the same party whose reckless policies pushed pensioners into despair, forcing elderly citizens to protest for their own savings. It is the same party whose governance failures forced Ghana into an IMF program that demanded painful sacrifices from ordinary people.

No intelligent Ghanaian should entertain the idea of returning such a party to power through rigging or manipulation. Ghana cannot afford another cycle of destruction.

Before leaving office, Akufo‑Addo declared publicly that he would not hand over power to Mahama “to come and destroy his good works.” Today, Ghanaians know the truth: he feared accountability. He feared exposure. He feared the investigations that would reveal the extent of the damage caused under his administration.

Thanks to the work of Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) and the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), Ghanaians now understand how deeply corruption penetrated the NPP government. EOCO is overwhelmed with cases involving former ministers, appointees, and political operatives. The investigations have exposed procurement fraud, illegal payments, offshore transfers, and coordinated schemes that drained state resources.

However, corruption alone is not the only threat. Ghana’s electoral system itself was compromised. Jean Mensa, appointed by Akufo‑Addo to lead the Electoral Commission, presided over one of the most controversial election periods in Ghana’s history. Her tenure was marked by constitutional violations, opaque decision‑making, exclusion of political parties from key processes, and unresolved electoral disputes.

In any country with a strong legal system, she would have faced serious consequences. Yet she remains in office, a situation that continues to disturb millions of Ghanaians. I write to educate and to warn. Any government that underestimates the importance of electoral integrity will pay dearly for it. The NPP knows this. They spent years attacking me, accusing me of being on the payroll of the NDC, insulting me, and even dragging my late parents into their propaganda.

However, the truth always wins. Today, the same warnings I gave years ago are unfolding before the eyes of the nation. On August 20, 2026, I wrote: “Richard Jakpa, The Man Who Stopped NPP’s Electoral Fraud, Must Not Sleep Before 2028,” That warning still stands.

President Mahama must understand that Ghana cannot afford to return to the political abyss created under Akufo‑Addo and Bawumia. Preparations to prevent electoral manipulation must begin now, not in 2028, not during the campaign season, not after the first signs of trouble. Now. Jean Mensa’s continued presence at the Electoral Commission is a national security concern.

Her past actions contributed to the chaos Mahama is now cleaning. She must be replaced with someone credible, transparent, and committed to Ghana’s democracy. If the NPP succeeds in manipulating the 2028 elections, Ghana will face consequences that may take decades to repair. The first and most immediate danger will be the collapse of ongoing corruption investigations.

All EOCO and ORAL cases involving former government officials will be halted, and the billions of stolen funds currently being traced will never be recovered. A rigged election will give those implicated in corruption the power to bury evidence, intimidate investigators, and permanently erase accountability.

The second consequence will be the return of impunity and state capture. Institutions that are now beginning to regain their independence will once again fall under political control. Public agencies will be weaponized to protect political interests rather than serve citizens. The culture of fear, silence, and manipulation that characterized the previous administration will return with even greater force, making it nearly impossible for journalists, civil society, and whistleblowers to operate freely.

Economically, Ghana will suffer a severe reversal. The progress made under Mahama, including stabilizing inflation, rebuilding investor confidence, and restoring fiscal discipline, will be destroyed. A rigged election will trigger capital flight, rising unemployment, and a sharp increase in national debt. Investors will withdraw, development partners will lose trust, and the country will once again be pushed toward economic collapse.

Internationally, Ghana risks isolation. A manipulated election will attract global condemnation, sanctions, and diplomatic embarrassment. Ghana’s reputation as a stable democracy in West Africa will be shattered, affecting trade, tourism, and international cooperation. Development assistance may be reduced or suspended, and Ghana will lose its moral authority in regional affairs.

A rigged election also increases the likelihood of political violence. When citizens feel their votes have been stolen, anger and frustration rise. Protests become inevitable, and clashes between security forces and civilians can escalate quickly. Ghana has enjoyed relative peace for decades, but electoral injustice can destabilize even the most peaceful nations.

Finally, the most devastating consequence will be the permanent damage to Ghana’s democracy. Once rigging becomes normalized, future elections lose meaning. Citizens lose trust in the system, voter turnout declines, and democracy becomes a mere formality. Ghana cannot survive another cycle of corruption, mismanagement, and institutional collapse. The stakes are too high, and the cost of failure is too great.

Measures Ghana Must Implement NOW to Prevent Election Rigging

To protect the 2028 elections, Ghana must take immediate and decisive action. The first step is the restructuring of the Electoral Commission. Jean Mensa’s continued leadership poses a serious threat to electoral integrity. Her past decisions contributed to the chaos Ghana is now recovering from, and she must be replaced with a credible, transparent, and non‑partisan leader who commands national trust.

Biometric verification systems must be strengthened to ensure that no polling station operates without proper authentication. Every voter must be verified, and every machine must be tested and monitored. This reduces the chances of impersonation, over‑voting, and unauthorized ballot stuffing.

Independent observers must be deployed early, not only on election day, but months before. Their presence deters manipulation, increases transparency, and ensures that suspicious activities are documented and reported. Ghana must also conduct a thorough audit of the voter register to remove ghost names, duplicates, and suspicious entries that could be exploited during collation.

Security at collation centers must be significantly increased. Most rigging does not happen at the polling station; it happens during collation. Strong security, transparent procedures, and real‑time monitoring are essential to prevent tampering with results.

ORAL and EOCO must be empowered to monitor electoral fraud attempts. Their intelligence capabilities should be used proactively to detect suspicious financial activities, vote‑buying schemes, and coordinated manipulation efforts. Technology must also be deployed to track real‑time results. Parallel tabulation reduces manipulation and provides an independent verification of official results.

Finally, polling agents and volunteers nationwide must be trained thoroughly. Vigilance at the grassroots level is key. Every agent must understand the procedures, the risks, and the tactics used by those who attempt to manipulate elections. A well‑trained team can prevent rigging before it begins.

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