Gbande: Presidency Focused on Fixing Akufo-Addo's Mess, Not NPP Propaganda
President John Mahama has “no time” for attempts by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to initiate discussions about a potential third term, according to Deputy Director of Operations at the Presidency, Mustapha Gbande.
Mr. Gbande stated that the President and his administration are fully focused on addressing the significant challenges inherited from the previous Akufo-Addo government. He emphasized that the government operates within the bounds of the 1992 Constitution.
“Ghana has a constitution, and that constitution is the instrument that controls all of us,” he said on PM Express.
He further explained that the Presidency is currently overwhelmed with the task of rectifying the issues left behind. “As I sit here, President Mahama and the leadership of the party are more occupied with battling the difficulties that President Akufo-Addo have taken this country to. It’s been very difficult,” he added.
Mr. Gbande highlighted the intense workload experienced by government officials. “The last few months, I have seen the President not resting. From here, he’s gone here. He’s never rested,” he revealed, adding that ministers of state are facing similar pressures.
“I’ve seen ministers of state. Recently, I had a meeting with my general secretary. He was acknowledging what some of our ministers go through, and the difficulty to even reach out to them, and he admitted to me that he understands some of these difficulties,” he stated.
He affirmed the unity within the National Democratic Congress (NDC) leadership, stating, “Our national chairman believes him.” Regarding the NPP’s claims, Mr. Gbande dismissed them as inconsequential. “We are not bothered about these renditions being carried out by Alexander Afenyo-Markin and his people. They can talk, but the right things will be done.”
The conversation also touched on Mr. Gbande’s long-held reservations about former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo. “I have always, and I have said that vehemently, my fear of having Justice Torkonoo being Chief Justice,” he said.
He clarified that his concerns were not politically motivated. “Someone comes up with a petition, and it went through a committee. The committee found that the reasons why she should not be there it is not an issue of President John Mahama or the NDC.”
Mr. Gbande praised former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo, stating, “I have come across women who have been heads of the judiciary, and they’ve discharged themselves creditably. Justice Sophia Akuffo is one of them. If there’s an opportunity for her to be a chief justice today, I will be the first person to advocate for her.”
In contrast, he expressed his belief that Justice Torkonoo did not perform to the same standard. “She has discharged herself competently, so well that Ghanaians didn’t think that, because her family is one person or the other, she’s compromised. I cannot say same of Justice Torkonoo, and I cannot say that she discharged herself creditably well.” He added, “I will say that and take responsibility for it.”
Mr. Gbande further accused Alexander Afenyo-Markin of exacerbating the controversy surrounding Justice Torkonoo. “I have always said that her wounds were more deeply wounded by the posture of Alexander Afenyo-Markin. He is the one who destroyed her. If she has anybody to accuse, it should be him and not anybody else.”
He explained, “He helped in politicising her. The individuals who are bystanders, when they look at the issues, what they see is politicisation and who caused it, it was Afenyo-Markin.”
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