NPP-UK Clarifies Gabby’s Remarks At Birmingham Event…Dismisses Viral Video As ‘False And Distorted,’ Urges Unity Ahead Of 2028 Polls

The United Kingdom branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP-UK) has issued a clarification following widespread misrepresentation of comments made by Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, a leading member of the party and former Executive Director of the Danquah Institute, during an engagement with members of the NPP Birmingham Chapter last Saturday.

In a statement signed by its chairman, Mr. Kingsley Adumattah Agyapong, the NPP-UK said it had observed “a flyer circulating on social media falsely quoting Mr. Otchere-Darko as having said that ‘Ashanti MPs failed their people.’” The branch described the claim as “entirely untrue and a gross distortion of his words.”

Mr. Otchere-Darko’s remarks, according to the party, were taken out of context and that he never suggested that Ashanti MPs preferred community roads to flyovers, as some online posts implied.

Rather, he had cited a broader example, without naming any individual legislator, to illustrate how economic constraints had forced the government to make difficult choices about project priorities.

“His point was not to blame or discredit Ashanti MPs,” the statement noted, “but to highlight the trade-offs government faced when revenues and borrowing options became limited.” Mr. Otchere-Darko had, in fact, acknowledged the government’s desire to have done more for the Ashanti Region while urging party members to avoid self-defeating narratives of neglect.

He reportedly told the audience that politics was a “competitive and comparative game” and that while it was important to show humility about where the party had fallen short, members must not “knock themselves down” as they regroup for a stronger comeback in the 2028 elections.

Turning to the party’s electoral performance, Mr. Otchere-Darko dismissed suggestions that the NPP’s 2024 defeat reflected a fundamental national shift to the opposition NDC. He pointed out that despite an expanded voter roll of some 1.7 million new registrants, the NDC’s total votes in the Ashanti Region had risen by fewer than 30,000.

This, he argued, should inspire renewed confidence within the party—provided it learns the right lessons and adapts strategically.

The NPP-UK’s statement described Mr. Otchere-Darko’s speech as “uplifting and forward-looking.” He reportedly encouraged party members to “regain confidence, avoid self-pity,” and to take pride in the government’s record under exceptionally difficult global economic conditions.

Mr. Otchere-Darko also empathised with ordinary Ghanaians for the hardships endured during the economic crisis, praising domestic bondholders as “war heroes” who had made painful sacrifices to help stabilise the economy.

Before his remarks, a former Deputy Chief Executive Officer had issued an apology on behalf of all appointees of the Akufo-Addo administration. In response, Mr. Otchere-Darko agreed that humility and introspection were necessary but warned against slipping into despair. His message, the NPP-UK said, was one of “motivation, renewal, and belief in the NPP’s historic mission.”

The branch expressed appreciation to Mr. Otchere-Darko, himself a former member of NPP-UK, for honouring the invitation on short notice to address the swearing-in ceremony of the Birmingham Chapter’s new executives. His visit, it said, “inspired reflection, unity, and renewed commitment to the Party’s cause.”

In its concluding remarks, the NPP-UK commended the parliamentary leadership—described as the “Mighty Minority”—for their resilience, and extended special thanks to the Ashanti Parliamentary Caucus for their “continued dedication to the NPP’s growth in the region.”

“With such leadership,” the statement ended, “we are confident that the NPP will rise stronger and secure victory in 2028 to continue delivering for the people of Ghana.”