{
  "id": 12118283,
  "title": "‘Electing Kojo Bamba is backward politics’ – Mustapha Gbande",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/electing-kojo-bamba-is-backward-politics-mustapha-gbande",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-05T09:09:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/electing-kojo-bamba-is-backward-politics-mustapha-gbande/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Mustapha Gbande, Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has criticised the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for electing Kojo Fosu Boadu, also known as Kojo Bamba, as their First Vice Chairman. Gbande described this outcome as \"backward politics,\" arguing that the party's choice sends a message of violence that Ghana has moved beyond.\n\nGbande highlighted Bamba's past association with a pro-NPP vigilante group, the Delta Force, and his leadership in a confrontation over the appointment of George Adjei as Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator. This group was involved in a conflict in 2017. Despite acknowledging Bamba's grassroots political experience, Gbande questioned the message the NPP's leadership was sending by electing him to such a senior position.\n\nThe NDC leader also dismissed suggestions that the NPP's new leadership might rely on violence or other means to influence future elections. He stated that Ghana's electoral system had advanced to a point where parties that lose public support would simply accept defeat. Gbande further claimed that the NPP had once planned to deploy military personnel to support their electoral efforts, but his party prevented this move.\n\nWhile acknowledging Bamba's background, Gbande emphasized that political parties require a mix of skills and personalities during election campaigns. He noted that political parties seek a diverse range of individuals, including bodyguards, operatives, and intellectuals, to ensure they have the necessary expertise for the various aspects of electoral contests.",
  "summary": "Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mustapha Gbande, has criticised the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) election of Kojo Fosu Boadu, popularly known as Kojo Bamba, as First Vice Chairman, describing the outcome as “backward politics.” Speaking on JoyNews’ Joy AM, Mr Gbande argued that electing a former leader of a pro-NPP vigilante group to a senior party position…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "I do not see myself as better than anyone – NPP’s 1st Vice Chair Kojo Bamba",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/04/i-do-not-see-myself-as-better-than-anyone-npps-1st-vice-chair-kojo",
        "published": "2026-10-04T17:29:23.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}