Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Mustapha Gbande, has undertaken an unexpected reversal and issued a formal apology to the Ghanaian public for his earlier call encouraging citizens to equip themselves with cutlasses for the 2024 elections.
This apology from Mustapha Gbande follows his earlier statement on Okay FM, where he asserted, “I have told the leadership of the NDC that we have to prepare in advance for the NPP ahead of the elections. When we are going to the polling station, let’s carry with us cutlasses. If we do, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) will not be able to misbehave toward us.”
Despite facing criticism for potentially inciting the electorate with his comments, Mr. Gbande initially stood firm, contending that, from the NDC’s perspective, arming themselves was the only means to ensure a free and fair election.
In a subsequent interview on Kumasi-based radio Angel FM, Mr. Gbande expressed a heartfelt apology, acknowledging his error and taking full responsibility.
He stated, “I take the responsibility, and I will apologize for it. And I’ll do so because it is part of me to accept when it is wrong.”
However, despite the apology, Mr Gbande maintained that he was misquoted during the controversial interview, prompting him to call for a thorough examination of how the story originated.