Mustapha Gbande, the Deputy General Secretary and a key voice for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has lauded Mahama’s return to power for not only renewing continental alliances but also marking a shift in the tone of governance.
According to him, with President John Dramani Mahama’s new administration, a wave of bold reforms and decisive positioning on both domestic and continental fronts is taking shape.
“He’s one of the first presidents who rallied African support back to Ghana when he became president. His investiture… saw almost all African leaders within the subregion come to participate”
Mustapha Gbande, NDC Deputy General Secretary
For him, the President’s approach, which he described as unapologetically tough, has drawn both praise and resistance.
Despite being only three months into the new administration, Gbande said the weight of public expectation has already intensified. “This government is barely three months old, but people feel like it’s been two years.”
He explained that Mahama hasn’t rested since the campaign. The transition from election victory to governance was immediate, and that intensity has continued into the presidency which is bent in delivering its unfailing mandate.
Crime to Crackdown
Gbande’s strongest remarks targeted the former administration under President Akufo-Addo. According to him, systemic crimes were not only overlooked, but institutionalized.
“President Akufo-Addo’s regime normalized crime,” Gbande said during an interaction on governance and law enforcement. “That is how sad things are.”
He recounted how a known party affiliate under the previous government approached him about tax evasion techniques that were commonplace. Gbande’s reaction was one of shock – but not surprise.
“In all of this conversation, a lot of security agencies and officers are perpetrators and accomplices in the commission of this crime”
Mustapha Gbande, NDC Deputy General Secretary
According to him, these revelations form part of the basis for the Mahama administration’s strong crackdown on illegality. He argued that the resistance being witnessed is not organic, but a coordinated attempt to derail that effort.
“So all of this noise that you have seen in the last few days is not born out of good faith. It is a calculated attempt to obstruct what is yet to come”
Mustapha Gbande, NDC Deputy General Secretary
State Security Operations
The increasing presence of the National Intelligence Bureau and national security forces across the country has raised eyebrows. But Gbande insists that this is the result of a government determined to deal with inherited criminal structures.
“President Akufo-Addo has left the country as a crime scene, with organized crimes from tax evasion to many things”
Mustapha Gbande, NDC Deputy General Secretary
He gave a simple analogy to explain the recent turmoil in the country.
“We have two kinds of people in this country, people who commit crimes and people who don’t commit crimes. Once you commit a crime, you don’t decide how it should be dealt with. The state decides.
“And the state, led by his excellency John Dramani Mahama, has decided my government will not shield and will not cover crimes”
Mustapha Gbande, NDC Deputy General Secretary
Having explained that the Mahama government is taking responsibility by responding directly to criminality without compromise, he added that the evidence will be palpable.
“If I’m fighting crimes head on, you will see the fight… You would see the actions, and that is exactly what we are seeing”
Mustapha Gbande, NDC Deputy General Secretary
Judiciary Under Suspicion
The government’s broader campaign against entrenched systems of misconduct has also extended to the judiciary.
Gbande accused the Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, appointed during the previous regime, of being part of a structure built to shield politically connected individuals.
“The current Chief Justice is a whole machinery of a window of escape set out there by President Akufo-Addo.
“She doesn’t have the gravitas, the fortification, the integrity, the credibility. She shouldn’t be there”
Mustapha Gbande, NDC Deputy General Secretary
Gbande emphasized that the calls for her removal are not political but reflect widespread public perception.
According to him, no neutral voices have publicly defended her, only the NPP, and that should be a loud commentary on how politically exposed and compromised she is.
“In the bowel of justice delivery in the judiciary, you and I don’t have a future. I’ve stated that the current chief justice is a complete blockade of justice delivery because of her posturing and who she is”
Mustapha Gbande, NDC Deputy General Secretary
Beyond the domestic challenges, Mahama’s foreign policy direction is already distinct. His inauguration, heavily attended by African leaders rather than Western counterparts, sent a clear message about his Pan-African vision. “It’s indicative of how he intends to rally other countries across the African continent to his governance.”
Gbande believes this is not symbolic but strategic, signaling a pivot in Ghana’s international posture.
As Mahama navigates his early days, the administration continues to face rising expectations. For Gbande, however, the work is just beginning – and the mission is clear.
“President Mahama’s government is not going to be one that is a tea party one. Things are going to be hard. Things are going to be tough. And any appointee… must tighten their belt and get ready to fight a tough fight”
Mustapha Gbande, NDC Deputy General Secretary
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