Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress Mustapha Gbande has criticized the New Patriotic Party accusing it of mismanaging public funds and failing to deliver on major national initiatives during its time in power.
Speaking during an interview on Starr Chart with Bola Ray Gbande pointed to the Planting for Food and Jobs programme as a prime example of what he described as financial mismanagement and political deception.
“They told you and I that they were going to do Planting for Food and Jobs. Brilliant policy but they brought the project and chopped the money” Gbande said.
“They didn’t even try in order to say they failed. They have chopped the money.”
He questioned the real outcomes of the programme noting that food prices remain high and food security was never achieved. “Go to the market today and ask for a bag of maize.
How did that deal with food security? Money went into it but what did we see?” he asked. “Even the regional minister had to caution him. Do you need more evidence to know that this was poorly supervised?”
Gbande also criticised other high-profile NPP initiatives such as One District One Factory and the Free Senior High School policy.
While acknowledging that Free SHS was a good idea he argued that the NPP turned it into a political gimmick instead of a genuine social intervention.
“One District One Factory was a scam. Free SHS was a good policy but poorly executed. They used it as a political tool not as a sincere programme to help students” he said.
Sharing his personal background Gbande reflected on how meaningful a properly executed Free SHS policy could have been for people like him.
“I had to struggle to pay my school fees. Free SHS would have helped people like me. But they fed the students poorly did not invest in infrastructure and did not motivate the teachers. It was a good vision but politically motivated.”
As the NDC government settles into office Gbande’s remarks serve as a reminder of the administration’s focus on accountability and the promise to fix what the party sees as the damage left behind by the NPP.
