The Deputy General Secretary of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mustapha Gbande, has denied claims by the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) National Communications Officer, Miracle Aboagye, that he described the party’s newly elected First National Vice Chairman as undeserving of the position.
Mr. Gbande said his comments had been misrepresented, insisting that he had never made such a statement.
“Colleagues, let me set the record straight that I have said that nowhere. That is not my style and that is not how I was trained to communicate,” he said.
He explained that his earlier remarks were intended to suggest that the NPP vice chairman’s election reflected protest voting, which he attributed to public dissatisfaction with the conduct of the party’s appointees during its eight years in government.
“Indeed, I have said that the First National Vice Chairman of the NPP was a product of protest voting as the result of the behaviour of the appointees of the NPP in eight years,” he stated.
Mr. Gbande also addressed his earlier comments about the vice chairman’s alleged association with the Invisible Forces in the Ashanti Region.
He referred to allegations surrounding an incident in which a sitting judge was reportedly attacked in court, maintaining that his remarks were based on the political history and conduct he was discussing.
“The only thing I quoted was, however, the profile of the First National Vice Chairman, who is the leader of an Invisible Forces in the Ashanti Region, and his record is that he led troops to attack a sitting judge in the court, including other things that happened in the Ashanti Region. These were my clear statements,” he said.
The allegations concerning the vice chairman’s involvement in the reported incident were not independently established in the account of Mr. Gbande’s remarks.
Responding to Mr. Aboagye’s criticism of his political credentials, Mr. Gbande challenged the NPP communications officer to examine his own record, particularly regarding allegations of corruption.
He said his political career, from his work at the NDC headquarters to his current role at the Jubilee House, had not been tainted by corruption allegations.
“I am proud to say that from the headquarters of the NDC to the Jubilee House, where I serve the President, none of my bosses can quote me on the mark of corruption.
None, and no one has a record of me to have been engaged in corruption,” he said.
Mr. Gbande added that he had previously served as Deputy Regional Secretary of the NDC in the Volta Region and maintained that there was no trace of corruption in his record.
He acknowledged, however, that his outspoken political style had often attracted controversy.
“One title I cannot deny is causing trouble. That is synonymous to me. That is my nature,” he said.
Mr. Gbande also made allegations against Mr. Aboagye, claiming that he had previously served as a District Chief Executive before being dismissed and had later faced accusations over funds allegedly intended for NPP communicators during the party’s time in government.
He further referred to allegations involving public funds, but no independent evidence was provided in his remarks to establish those claims.
“Between the two of us, who should Ghanaians be afraid to allow close to the corridors of power?” Mr. Gbande asked.
Mr. Gbande said his political ambition had consistently been driven by his desire to help the NDC regain power and advance its political objectives.
He also praised President John Dramani Mahama, expressing confidence in the administration’s approach to governance and accountability.
The exchange highlights growing political tensions between representatives of the NDC and NPP, with both sides contesting claims about their records and suitability for public leadership.
