Over the past weeks, some popular streets and highways have seen billboards of a strangely masked man (and sometimes men) purporting to be the upcoming third force to break the dominance of the two leading parties, the NPP and the NDC.
The suspense has been so intense, and possible clues as to the new force have been far from reach.
On Saturday, November 18, 2023, independent political aspirant Dr. Sam Ankrah popped up on social media, supposedly to suggest that he is that new force, with a brand depiction of the mask that has so far caught the attention of the populace.
“No masked promises; vote for Dr. Sam Ankrah for the next generation”, he said in his flyer.
He, however, surprisingly, used the hashtag #thenewestforce, not the already-known #thenewforce, beneath his flyer.
On Monday, November 20, 2023, Dr. Ankrah issued further communication on his commitment to changing the fortunes of the nation if given the opportunity.
While some welcomed him for coming on board to neutralise the NPP-NDC duopoly, others downplayed his impact in the political space, with some bashing him for creating unnecessary suspense.
But later the same day, the supposed original owners of “The New Force” brand issued a press statement pointing out categorically that Dr. Sam Ankrah does not own the brand and threatened to file a complaint with the EC and sue him in court for alleged theft of their intellectual property.
It has become apparent that Dr. Ankrah was not the real “new force” but seemed to be taking advantage of the deep suspense around “The New Force” to announce his presence.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Sam Ankrah, in a press conference on September 22, 2023, announced his intention to contest as an independent presidential candidate in the 2024 general elections.
Dr. Ankrah’s action has drawn widespread backlash, with the public questioning his credibility and authenticity as a potential leader of the country.
Some have mentioned famed businessman Freedom Jacob Caesar as the one behind “the new force” “noise”, but until Cheddar comes out to confirm or deny this, “the new force” remains a mystery, at least for some months before December 7, 2024.
Meanwhile, Dr. Sam Ankrah has refuted allegations that he claimed credit for “The New Force” mantra.
He said his “No Masked Promises” is a campaign towards transparency & accountable leadership.
Who is this new force for you?
