Deputy Director of Operations at the Presidency, Mustapha Gbande, says President John Dramani Mahama has “no time” for what he describes as the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) manufactured claims that the President intends to pursue a third term.
Speaking on PM Express, Mr. Gbande — who also serves as the Deputy General Secretary of the NDC — said the government is fully focused on confronting the severe economic and governance challenges inherited from the Akufo-Addo administration.
“Ghana has a constitution, and that constitution is the instrument that controls all of us,” he emphasised.
But according to him, the Presidency is overwhelmed with the urgent task of rescuing the economy and restoring stability.
“As I sit here, President Mahama and the leadership of the party are more occupied with battling the difficulties that President Akufo-Addo has taken this country to. It’s been very difficult,” he noted.
Mr. Gbande described a presidency working under intense pressure.
“The last few months, I have seen the President not resting. From here, he’s gone here. He’s never rested,” he said, adding that ministers are facing the same level of strain.
“I’ve seen ministers of state… my general secretary recently acknowledged what some of our ministers go through, and the difficulty in even reaching out to them. He admitted he understands these difficulties.”
He insisted the NDC leadership is fully united behind the President: “Our national chairman believes him,” he said.
Mr. Gbande dismissed suggestions from the NPP parliamentary leadership that President Mahama harbours a hidden third-term agenda.
“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.”
He also reiterated his long-standing concerns about the judiciary under former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo.
“I have always, and I have said that vehemently, had my fears about Justice Torkonoo being Chief Justice,” he said, insisting his reservations were never political. “A petition was brought, it went through a committee, and the committee found reasons she should not be there. It is not an issue of President John Mahama or the NDC.”
Mr. Gbande contrasted Justice Torkonoo with former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo, whom he praised.
“I have come across women who have been heads of the judiciary and discharged themselves creditably. Justice Sophia Akuffo is one of them. If there’s an opportunity for her to be Chief Justice today, I will be the first to advocate for her.”
He maintained that Justice Torkonoo’s performance in office fell short of public expectations and claimed her reputation was further damaged by the actions of the NPP’s parliamentary leader.
“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 argued.
According to him, Afenyo-Markin politicised her tenure: “When bystanders look at the issues, what they see is politicisation — and who caused it? It was Afenyo-Markin.”
