A Development Economist at the Centre for Social Policy Studies at the University of Ghana, Dr George Domfeh, has challenged the basis of Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mustapha Gbande’s description of New Patriotic Party (NPP) supporters attending the party’s National Delegates Conference in Kumasi as “cocaine consultants.”
Dr Domfeh questioned the rationale for linking NPP supporters converging in Kumasi to allegations surrounding cocaine, arguing that the responsibility for preventing illicit drugs from entering or leaving Ghana lies with the relevant state institutions.
In a commentary on Mr Gbande’s remarks, Dr Domfeh asked whether he had correctly understood the NDC executive’s description of the NPP supporters.
“Did I hear correctly that NDC’s FOYO M. GBANDE has described NPP supporters in Kumasi today to elect their national leaders as ‘cocaine consultants’?” he wrote.
He subsequently questioned the logic behind the description.
“But how does this logic work?” Dr Domfeh asked.
He argued that if there are concerns about cocaine trafficking in Ghana, the focus should be on the effectiveness of the state’s efforts to prevent the movement of illicit drugs rather than on supporters attending an opposition party conference.
“Your government’s job is to prevent cocaine from entering or leaving Ghana. If that responsibility has not been effectively discharged, why drag NPP supporters into the equation?” he wrote.
Dr Domfeh also questioned the appropriateness of associating NPP delegates with the issue of cocaine simply because they were gathered in Kumasi to participate in the party’s internal elections.
“Ghana, are we serious at all? Ɛyɛ asɛm ooo!” he added.
Dr Domfeh’s reaction follows a social media post by Mr Gbande ahead of the NPP’s National Delegates Conference.
In the post, Mr Gbande described NPP members expected to converge in Kumasi as “cocaine consultants” and alleged that they would spend part of what he described as money stolen from the state during the NPP’s eight years in government.
“The cocaine consultants are gathering in Kumasi. They will spend part of the stolen money from the state during their 8 yrs in government,” Mr Gbande wrote.
Mr Gbande did not name any individual in the post and later sought to emphasise that point.
“I’ve not mentioned any name,” he added.
His remarks have nevertheless drawn a response from Dr Domfeh, who has focused on the basis for extending the “cocaine consultants” description to NPP supporters attending the conference.
The comments come as the NPP holds its National Delegates Conference at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
About 7,163 delegates from all 16 regions are expected to participate in the conference, where the party will elect new national executives to oversee its organisational affairs ahead of the 2028 general elections.
The conference is also expected to consider proposed amendments to the NPP’s constitution, with the changes potentially affecting aspects of the party’s internal organisation and governance.
The gathering brings together delegates, senior party figures, incumbent and aspiring national executives, and other stakeholders as the NPP begins preparations for the next general election.
Mr Gbande’s comments have added a political dimension to the conference, while Dr Domfeh’s response has raised questions about the basis for associating the party’s supporters with allegations concerning cocaine trafficking.
The allegations of stolen state funds and cocaine-related activities contained in Mr Gbande’s post remain his assertions; neither allegation is established by Dr Domfeh’s response, which is principally a challenge to the logic of describing the NPP delegates as “cocaine consultants.”
By 1960news.com
