The NDC Deputy General Secretary, Mustapha Gbande, says the return of John Mahama was powered not only by his party’s renewed strength but also by support from within the New Patriotic Party.

The Deputy Director of Operations at the Presidency says many NPP insiders backed the NDC candidate then because they felt the country was on the brink.

Speaking on Joy News' PM Express, he said the NDC had learnt bitter lessons from its 2016 defeat.

He said the party now understands that it made a mistake by not standing firmly behind John Mahama to complete his vision.

According to him, the vacuum created after John Mahama left confirmed that the country had abandoned good policies and projects.

He said roads, hospitals and school projects were left unattended. He insisted that this created the urgent need for Mahama’s comeback.

Mr Gbande said the civil society space also played a key role. He praised groups and individuals who pushed for what he called nationalistic causes.

He said the media also stood for what was right, adding that the NDC’s rank and file believed change was possible and rallied behind the leadership, with everybody coming on board.

Mr Gbande then made a revelation that the NDC received “enormous support” from elements within the NPP.

He said these were people who felt the government had lost its way. When asked for clarity, he repeated that the support came from people who believed the country needed to be saved. He said many felt “enough was enough.”

Pressed further on whether these individuals campaigned for the NDC or financed the party, Mr Gbande said the support came “in many ways” and that he would keep it political.

He insisted that even parts of the NPP base believed President Akufo-Addo was on a path that would have “supervised the collapse of a country called Ghana,” and they would not allow that to happen.

He said this helped the NDC secure a large margin.

Mr Gbande rejected suggestions that the NDC won simply because the NPP was weak, stressing the NDC victory was the result of a strong party with competent executives.

He said every level of the party was ready to work as a team, the flagbearer was credible and had a clear vision, and all could see that vision.

According to him, the running mate also changed the political narrative as the first female presidential hopeful, now the Vice President. He said all these elements were signs of why the NDC won.