Rita Talata Asobayire, the 2nd National Vice Chairperson of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), has vehemently denied claims attributed to her in a statement that has been widely circulated on social media and carried by online news portals.
The said statement, which allegedly appears in the yet-to-be-released Oquaye Committee Report, suggests that she criticized the party’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, labelling him “an armchair leader” and blaming him for the party’s poor performance.
The claims were notably carried by Opera News, under the headline: “Rift in NPP leadership: Oquaye Report Exposes Cracks as Vice Chairperson Slams General Secretary”.
According to the publication, the alleged quote from Asobayire accuses Kodua Frimpong of being uninspiring and failing to hold appointees accountable—allegations that have stirred discussions across the political divide.
In a swift and strongly-worded rebuttal, Asobayire dismissed the statement as “a complete fabrication” and insisted that she has never appeared before the Oquaye Committee, let alone made any submission.
“I have NOT interacted with the Oquaye Committee and have NOT made any appearance before the Committee,” she stated.
“I was actually NOT in the jurisdiction at the time the Committee met with the National Executives, and this fact was duly communicated.”
The Oquaye Committee, chaired by former Speaker of Parliament Professor Mike Oquaye, was set up by the NPP leadership in the aftermath of the 2024 general elections to review the party’s performance and offer strategic recommendations.
The committee’s findings have not yet been made public, a point emphasized by Asobayire in her statement.
She noted that no portion of the report has been officially released, making any alleged excerpts being circulated inherently questionable.
Furthermore, Rita Asobayire pointed to what she described as a deliberate misinformation campaign, alleging that elements affiliated with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) are behind the viral quote in a bid to sow division within the NPP.
She urged the public and party supporters to disregard the statement, which she said is part of a broader strategy of political mischief.
Regarding her relationship with the General Secretary, Asobayire emphasized that there is no rift between them, describing their working relationship as “excellent.”
She lauded Kodua Frimpong’s leadership style as firm and politically astute, adding that it would be “inconceivable” for her to have made such disparaging remarks.
In the wake of the viral misinformation, the NPP Vice Chairperson has taken a firm stance, demanding a full retraction and public apology from Opera News and others who have published or republished the false claim.
She further disclosed that she has instructed her lawyers to take legal action if her demands are not met, signaling a readiness to defend her reputation through the courts.
The development comes at a sensitive time for the NPP as the party attempts to regroup following its electoral setback in 2024.
With internal unity now more crucial than ever, the circulation of purportedly false reports from an unreleased document threatens to undermine the party’s reconciliation and reorganization efforts.
