Gabby Otchere-Darko keeps distance as NPP heads into crucial primaries

The founder and executive chairman of the Africa Prosperity Network, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has reaffirmed his lifelong affiliation with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) but distanced himself from active partisan politics and internal party contests.

Appearing on GH Today on GHOne TV, Otchere-Darko described his connection to the NPP as hereditary, citing his grandfather J B Danquah as a foundational influence.

“The NPP is in my blood. I was born into the tradition. I have nowhere to go,” he said, adding that although he remains a party member, he is not politically active.

He declined to comment on criticisms labelling Ghana’s Foreign Minister as a “reckless diplomat”, describing such debates as partisan politics that fall outside his current focus.

“There’s the politics of it, and then there’s the bigger African politics that I’m doing,” he said, referring to his continental advocacy work.

The Ken question

Otchere-Darko also repeatedly refused to be drawn into discussions about the 2024 election loss or the upcoming NPP presidential primaries scheduled for 31 January, insisting that his personal preferences were irrelevant.

“My preferred candidate is the one the majority of the delegates will choose,” he said, stressing that candidates must earn support directly from party members rather than rely on elite endorsements.

On the controversy surrounding his cousin, the former finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta, who has been linked to reports of detention by the US immigration authorities, Gabby Otchere-Darko declined to discuss private conversations or assign responsibility for the economic decisions taken during Ghana’s crisis.

“I don’t discuss private conversations publicly,” he said when pressed on whether he had spoken to Ghana’s ambassador to the United States about Ofori-Atta’s return.

However, Otchere-Darko expressed confidence that Ofori-Atta would eventually return to Ghana.

“He’s a strong man mentally and strong in faith. I believe he will come back,” he said.

Despite persistent questioning, Otchere-Darko maintained that he would not publicly endorse any candidate or engage in internal party rivalries, warning against overreliance on opinion polls.

“Polls can guide, but you can’t be a prisoner of polls. Go out there and speak to the people – that’s what matters,” he said.