The Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mustapha Gbande, has rejected 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 insisted that he had never made such a statement, arguing that his comments had been misrepresented.

“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,” Mr. Gbande said, dismissing the claim attributed to him.

According to him, his earlier remarks were intended to suggest that the vice chairman’s election was influenced by protest voting arising from public dissatisfaction with the conduct of NPP appointees during the party’s 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 behavior of the appointees of the NPP in 8 years.”

Mr. Gbande also revisited his earlier comments concerning the vice chairman’s alleged association with the Invisible Forces in the Ashanti Region, citing allegations surrounding an incident involving an attack on a sitting judge in court.

He maintained that his comments should be understood within the context of the political history and conduct he was discussing.

“The only thing I quoted was however the profile of the 1st 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 explained.

Responding to Mr. Aboagye’s criticism of his political credentials, Mr. Gbande challenged the NPP communicator to examine his record in public service.

He said his political journey, from the NDC headquarters to his current work at the Jubilee House has 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.

“I came to this level serving the party as a Deputy Regional Secretary of the Volta Region. Again, there cannot be any trace of me as far as corruption is concerned,” he said.

However, Mr. Gbande appeared to acknowledge that his political style had attracted controversy.

“One title I cannot deny is causing trouble. That is synonymous to me. That is my nature,” he added.

He took a swipe at Miracles Aboagye saying “Miracles Aboagye was appointed a DCE. He got sacked. Soon after the NPP finished their [national election] general election, he was accused to have squandered money meant for NPP communicators whilst they were in government through the election. This young man, today, is having to explain himself for issues of corruption and State money it’s been alleged that he dipped his hands in. That character is elected as a Communications Officer of a political party”.

“Between the two of us, who should Ghanaians be afraid to allow close to corridors of power?” Mustapha Gbande queried. 

He explained that his political ambition had always been driven by the desire to help the NDC regain power and advance its political objectives.

Mr. Gbande also praised President John Dramani Mahama, expressing confidence in the administration’s approach to governance and accountability.