The Deputy General Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mustapha Gbande, has alleged that the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) is reluctant to participate in the upcoming Ablekuma North parliamentary election due to a lack of effective leadership and internal disarray.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosiisen programme monitored by Kumasimail.com, Gbande asserted that the NPP’s hesitation stems from an inability to provide clear direction to its members.
“The NPP leadership knows there’s no way they will win the election,” Gbande stated, suggesting that the party’s current state is marked by disintegration and a lack of focus.
When questioned about claims from the NPP that the NDC is using its influence to pressure the Electoral Commission (EC), Gbande dismissed the accusations as baseless.
He referenced a proverb to illustrate his point, saying, “A prostitute man who teaches in marriage, if you divorce him in relationship, the way it hurts him.”
He expressed surprise at the NPP’s allegations, emphasizing that the NDC has not abandoned its call for a competent and impartial EC.
“The call for competent formation and review of the current setup of the Electoral Commission has not been abandoned; we will return to that conversation after the Ablekuma North election,” he stated emphatically.
Gbande further argued that the NPP’s demands of the EC are not supported by the country’s electoral laws, specifically referencing CI 127.
He noted that the EC, after deliberations with the NPP, has now decided to proceed with the election, in line with legal provisions.
“But for us, we won’t sit by the roadside and cry. The NPP leadership knows that there’s no way they will win the election, ” he emphasized.
Highlighting the NDC’s approach to the campaign, Gbande said the party intends to scrutinize the NPP’s record, including claims made by Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia regarding the construction of toilet facilities and road projects during the NPP’s eight years in government.
“We are going to interrogate where Dr. Bawumia’s promised toilet facilities are, and the roads they claimed to have built during their eight years in government,” he remarked.
Despite the tensions, Gbande extended an invitation to all political parties to participate in the election.
He framed the contest as a “test match”, a chance for the NPP to prove that Ghanaians have forgiven their past “atrocities and mismanagement.”
“If Ghanaians believe President Mahama’s government has brought stability, good governance, and transparency, it will show in the results from the 19 polling stations,” he asserted. “So why are they running away?”
Gbande concluded by questioning the NPP’s campaign strategy and suggesting that their current actions are an attempt to find an excuse to avoid electoral defeat.
“The only available option for them is to begin to dance by the roadside like they’ve started so that they find an excuse not to participate in the election,” he said.
Source: www.kumasimail.com /Kwadwo Owusu
