Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mustapha Gbande, has defended the party’s handling of allegations that some aspirants offered inducements to delegates during the party’s primary held on Saturday, February 7.
He insists that internal disciplinary processes have already been activated.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on Wednesday, Mr Gbande said the party had taken what he described as a “drastic position” on the matter, arguing that the NDC’s actions should serve as a wake-up call to other political parties.
“And so I’m sure that it will become part of that regulation going forward,” he said.
“And so we actually thought that even by the mere statement that we took a drastic position on this matter, it’s enough. It hasn’t happened in the history of this country.”
His comments follow the establishment of an investigative committee tasked with examining claims that some aspirants distributed items, including television sets and cash, to influence delegates.
Host Evans Mensah, however, challenged the NDC’s position, questioning why there had been no visible sanctions despite what he described as an admission that vote-buying had occurred.
In response, Mr Gbande cited action taken against Baba Jamal, whom he described as the only senior government appointee involved in the election.
“Baba Jamal, who is actually an appointee, the only government appointee, senior government appointee, an ambassador in that election, was reprimanded by President Mahama,” Mr Gbande stated.
He explained that the reprimand was linked to President Mahama’s “reset agenda” and the introduction of a code of conduct for government appointees, which he described as the first of its kind in the country.
“Because the reset agenda accumulated into the establishment of a code of conduct, for the first time, that sets the conduct of all government appointees,” he said.
“The mere fact that this controversy had to do with his involvement was enough for the President to make a decision, and the President took that decision, and we are happy about that decision.”
When pressed on whether others implicated should face harsher punishment, Mr Gbande argued that the party’s authority is limited, especially where such conduct is not explicitly defined in the party’s constitution.
He said the incidents, as described, amounted to inappropriate conduct but did not necessarily constitute a constitutional breach.
“The description of what has transpired to us constituted inappropriate conduct,” he said. “Because, again, if it was captured in our Constitution, I’m sure that it would have been given a different description.”
Mr Gbande maintained that the NDC cannot exceed its internal mandate.
“Can you go beyond reprimand when the conduct is inappropriate? No, unless we want to assume the role of a state institution, which we don’t have that capacity,” he said.
He further argued that the party’s decision to openly address the issue is itself a significant step toward tackling what he described as a growing menace.
“But the mere fact that we are here talking about it and seeking to bring an end to that menace in itself is an effort that is worth commending,” he added.
Mr Gbande concluded by urging other political parties to follow the NDC’s example.
“What we then expect at this time is that other political parties will now rise from their slumber,” he said.
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