Former NPP officials must explain why they took monies for contracts they did not supply — Gbande
Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mustapha Gbande, has defended the government’s decision to invite former appointees of the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration for questioning over alleged financial and procurement irregularities.
Speaking at a town hall meeting in Accra on Tuesday, August 18, Mr Gbande said former public officials who received state funds for projects, goods or services must be prepared to account for how those resources were utilised.
He argued that invitations by law enforcement agencies should not automatically be construed as political persecution, insisting that individuals entrusted with public resources have a responsibility to answer questions when concerns arise over their use.
“There are those who took money for contracts. They took cheques from the government and promised to supply things they did not supply. If the police have called you to come and explain, is that a problem?” he asked.
Mr Gbande maintained that the government has an obligation to establish what happened to public funds disbursed under the previous administration, particularly where there are allegations that contracted projects or supplies were not delivered.
He said the government would continue to pursue accountability from individuals who managed state resources, stressing that former officeholders should be willing to provide explanations where their stewardship is questioned.
NPP Accuses Government of Political Persecution
Mr Gbande’s comments come amid heightened political tensions over investigations by state agencies into former NPP government officials.
The opposition party has repeatedly accused the governing NDC of using state institutions to target its members, describing some of the investigations and prosecutions as politically motivated and selective.
The NPP staged its “Democracy Under Attack” demonstration in Accra on August 6, 2026, to protest what it described as selective justice and the alleged abuse of state institutions.
The party has maintained that it supports accountability but insists that investigations must be conducted fairly, transparently and in accordance with due process.
Former NPP Officials Under Investigation
Several former NPP appointees have been investigated in separate cases involving alleged financial and procurement irregularities.
One of them is former Executive Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation (IMCCoD), Dennis “Miracles” Aboagye, who was arrested by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) in July.
EOCO said the investigation followed a petition and a forensic audit covering the period from August 2022 to February 2025.
The NPP has criticised the manner in which some of the investigations have been conducted, arguing that law enforcement agencies must not be used to settle political scores.
The government, however, maintains that investigations into suspected financial crimes form part of its broader accountability and asset-recovery agenda.
The administration has positioned the recovery of state resources and investigations into alleged corruption and procurement breaches as key components of its efforts to strengthen accountability in public administration.
Mr Gbande’s latest comments reinforce the government’s position that former officials who managed public funds must account for their stewardship whenever credible concerns arise.