A leading figure of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko has responded to widespread claims labeling him as a "prime minister" under the previous NPP-led government.

According to him, he never held any position in the previous government, nor was he appointed to any role, contrary to public speculation.

“The last time I checked, our constitution was clear that we have a president, a vice president, and Members of Parliament. I think it actually started because I believe in 2017, I mean if you remember all the speculation, Gabby is going to go to this ministry, all manner of titles were given to me including what, chief of staff, cabinet minister and eventually, Akufo-Addo gave me nothing, not even a board member, not even an assembly member.

“Government can appoint a few people to some assemblies, but he gave me nothing. You know, so I think Ghanaians decided to give me a title because they couldn't believe that Akufo-Addo could be so mean to me. That's a joke,” he said jokingly during an interview on Asaase Radio on Monday, June 16, 2025.

Otchere-Darko further revealed that the title given to him by the public became burdensome, as he was sometimes blamed or praised for incidents within the government of which he was unaware.

“But it got a bit burdensome. I suppose where you are given responsibilities that you don't have and then you are blamed or given credit for things that you know very little about,” he stated.

The politician added that his visits to the presidency at the time were solely to meet with the president, to whom he is related, for conversations.

He clarified that he never had the authority to make decisions related to governance as purported.

“Sometimes the impression was created as if I actually worked at the presidency, but I just used to go visit my cousin, my friend, and my mentor, usually around 11 pm, just to go have a conversation and to relax him because he spends the whole day having meetings and stuff. I could probably stay in the office till about 1.30 am, so I would go there sometimes after midnight, sometimes after 11.30 pm, when I finish my work on my way home, and just have a big conversation just to make him relax.”

He added, “And it's not necessarily about matters of governance, but of course, if there's something that he wants to pick your brain on, he will tell you but you don't go interfering, as it were. And of course, because of your proximity to him, as some will say, you can walk into his room.”

Watch the interview from 7mins to 15 mins below;



MAG/MA

Ever heard of Nkofie, the legendary Kwahu cave believed to grant wishes? Join GhanaWeb's People & Places as we take you on an exclusive tour of this mystical site: