Hot SourceThe United Kingdom branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP-UK) has dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that Mr. Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, former Executive Director of the Danquah Institute, accused Ashanti MPs of failing their people.
In a statement issued on Monday 6 October, the NPP-UK described the reports as “entirely untrue and a gross distortion of his words,” stressing that Mr. Otchere-Darko’s comments at the NPP Birmingham Chapter event on 4 October 2025 were taken completely out of context.
The branch explained that Mr. Otchere-Darko never stated that Ashanti MPs preferred community roads to flyovers, as alleged on social media. Rather, his comments were made in reference to Ghana’s severe economic challenges during a period when several externally funded projects had to be suspended.
According to the statement signed by NPP-UK Chairman, Kingsley Adumattah Agyapong (Wofa K), Mr. Otchere-Darko cited an instance where an MP suggested that, under the constrained fiscal situation, the immediate priority should be the construction of more community roads rather than a flyover.
“His point was not to blame or discredit Ashanti MPs,” the statement clarified, “but to illustrate the difficult trade-offs government faced when revenue and borrowing options became limited.”
The NPP-UK said Mr. Otchere-Darko’s broader message was to acknowledge the challenges the NPP government faced while urging members to stay confident and focused. He reportedly reminded party members that politics is a “competitive and comparative game” and cautioned against narratives suggesting that the Ashanti Region had been neglected.
Mr. Otchere-Darko, the statement added, was emphatic that the NPP government wished it had done more for the Ashanti Region and urged members to show humility about areas where the Party fell short, but not to “knock ourselves down,” especially as it prepares for a stronger return in 2028.
He also pointed out that while the 2024 defeat was significant, it does not necessarily mean the country has shifted to the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He cited, for instance, that although about 1.7 million new voters were added to the register, the NDC could not increase its actual votes in the Ashanti Region by even 30,000, despite improving its percentage share, a point meant to encourage confidence within the rank and file of the Party.
Describing Mr. Otchere-Darko’s message as uplifting and forward-looking, the NPP-UK said he called on members to avoid self-pity and to recognise that the NPP’s record in government remains commendable given the global economic turbulence faced.
He also empathised with Ghanaians for the hardships endured and praised bondholders as “war heroes” who made personal sacrifices to stabilise the economy.
The branch further expressed gratitude to Mr. Otchere-Darko for accepting their invitation at short notice to address the Birmingham Chapter’s swearing-in ceremony, saying his address “inspired reflection, unity, and renewed commitment to the cause of the Party.”
It also commended the Ashanti Parliamentary Caucus for their continued dedication to the NPP’s growth and expressed optimism that with introspection and unity, the Party would bounce back stronger to reclaim power in 2028.
The post NPP UK hits back at false claims over Gabby Otchere-Darko’s remarks appeared first on The Herald ghana.
