Member of Parliament for Mpraeso, Davis Ansah Opoku, popularly known as OPK, has pushed back against accusations of tribal prejudice, following the circulation of a WhatsApp message alleged to contain comments against a northern candidate leading the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in future elections.
The post, which quickly went viral, suggested OPK opposed the idea of a northerner taking up the party’s flagbearer role for the 2028 general elections—an implication that sparked criticism and accusations of promoting tribalism within the NPP.
But in a statement issued via his social media platforms, the MP dismissed the claims as misleading and taken out of context, describing the incident as a “mischievous attempt” to misrepresent a private exchange.
“This publication is not only false but also a gross misrepresentation,” OPK clarified. “The suggestion that I objected to a northerner becoming flagbearer is completely unfounded.”
Providing context, OPK explained that his original comment was a response to another group member, Tamimu—a northerner—who had questioned the candidacy of Hon. Bryan Acheampong based on regional succession logic. OPK noted that he cited former President John Mahama, also a northerner, to challenge what he saw as a flawed and divisive argument—not to target any ethnic group.
“It was never an attack on northerners; it was a rebuttal of a divisive and regionalist claim made by one of their own,” he said.
The legislator also emphasized his respect for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and all other potential NPP contenders, reiterating his belief that leadership should be guided by merit and unity, not ethnicity.
He concluded with a call for political discourse that prioritizes competence over tribal rhetoric, stressing that every Ghanaian, regardless of origin, deserves the opportunity to serve.
