‘They just wanted to test their popularity’ – Mustapha Gbande dismisses NPP’s CJ protest

Deputy NDC General Secretary Mustapha Gbande has rubbished the NPP’s protest against the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, saying the demonstration was unnecessary and politically self-serving.

Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Monday, May 5, he said the NPP’s march was not about defending the judiciary, but rather an attempt to flex political muscle after its 2024 electoral defeat.

“Perhaps they just wanted to test their popularity, which is good,” he remarked.

“Nobody underestimated the NPP and their membership. The argument has never been that because the NPP lost an election, their party has collapsed. It is still a strong political party, and we respect that.”

But the Director of Operations at the Presidency was firm that the demonstration achieved nothing of value.

“At the end of the day, they failed to drive home anything, because clearly, there was no need for the demonstration in the first place,” he said.

“All the things they talked about have already been spoken. People have shared opinions. Some agree, others disagree.”

He argued that while the right to protest is guaranteed, it cannot override constitutional processes already in motion.

“The demonstrators derive their powers from a constitution—their right to demonstrate—and they’ve done so,” Mustapha Gbande acknowledged.

“But the same Constitution requires that certain processes be followed in certain decisions.”

“I don’t think demonstrations have concentrated enough structures that can displace decisions being taken based on constitutionally provided guidelines,” he added.

“So we should respect that same Constitution and allow the processes to continue.”

Mustapha Gbande’s comments came in direct response to fellow guest and NPP member Andrew Egyapa Mercer, who touted the large turnout at the protest as a sign of the party’s strength.

But the Deputy NDC General Secretary was unimpressed.

“At the end of the day, it is not the place of the NPP, my brother Egyapa Mercer, or Alexander Afenyo-Markin to determine whether or not all of these processes give fidelity or find fidelity with the law,” he said.

The protest, which drew support from other opposition parties together with the NPP, was staged in Accra over what the opposition has called a “dangerous interference” in the judiciary after President John Mahama suspended the Chief Justice.

Mustapha Gbande maintained that the President acted within his constitutional authority and that critics should allow the legal process to take its course without politicising the matter.

“Let’s not turn constitutional issues into a street contest,” he said. “The law is the law. If we all respect the Constitution, we should let the proper institutions do their work.”