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Claim: A purported New Patriotic Party (NPP) press statement circulating on Facebook claims that the party has responded to comments by Ghanaian preacher Rev Owusu Bempah concerning the party’s ongoing internal elections and his prediction that the NPP will not win the next 2028 general election.
Verdict: False! DUBAWA found no evidence that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) issued the statement responding to Bishop Owusu Bempah’s comments. The purported statement was not found on the party’s official communication platforms, and the Facebook account that shared the document has also previously circulated similar unverified NPP-related directives.
Full Text
A document claiming to be an official press release from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has been circulating on Facebook, purporting to show the party’s response to comments made by Ghanaian preacher Apostle Dr Isaac Owusu-Bempah of Glorious Word Power Ministries International about the party’s political fortunes ahead of the next 2028 general election.
The document, titled “NPP Responds to Bishop Owusu Bempah’s Comments on the Ongoing Internal Elections,” claims that the party has taken note of the preacher’s remarks and disagrees with his assertion that the NPP will not win the next general election.
According to the statement, the party allegedly described Bishop Owusu Bempah’s comments as “useless, reckless, and politically motivated,” while accusing him of attempting to create fear and division among party supporters.
The purported release further claims that the NPP called on its members, supporters and the general public to disregard the preacher’s comments, adding that the party remains committed to conducting a transparent and credible internal election process.
The document bears the NPP’s logo and the name of the party’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, giving the impression that it was officially issued by the party.
The statement was shared on Facebook by an account identified as “GH360.” At the time DUBAWA monitored the post, it had generated 54 reactions, 23 comments and one share. But the originator also shared it in a political group that warranted significant reach of over 150k followers, thus, the pro-NPP ‘NPP Official’ page.
The post attracted mixed reactions from users. While some accepted the document as genuine and praised the supposed response from the party, others questioned its authenticity, with some users describing it as a fabricated statement.
Due to the potential for the document to mislead the public about the position of a major political party, DUBAWA conducted a verification to determine whether the statement originated with the NPP.
Verification
No publication on official NPP platforms
DUBAWA checked the New Patriotic Party’s official communication channels, including its website and verified social media platforms, to determine whether the party had released any statement responding to Bishop Owusu Bempah’s comments.
However, no such statement was found.
Official political party statements are typically published through recognised communication channels to allow members, supporters and the public to authenticate their source.
The absence of the purported statement from the NPP’s official platforms raises questions about its credibility and authenticity.
The document lacks key features of an official NPP press release
DUBAWA analysed the structure and format of the circulating document and identified inconsistencies that differ from standard official party communications.
The purported statement lacks a reference number or publication date, details commonly included in formal press releases to support record-keeping and verification.
Although the document bears the name of NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong, it contains only a typed signature, lacking additional authentication features that would confirm it was issued by the party.
These omissions make it difficult to verify that the document originated from the New Patriotic Party.
The statement was not reported by credible media organisations
A public response from the NPP to comments by Bishop Owusu Bempah, a prominent religious figure whose political remarks often attract public attention, would ordinarily generate media coverage given its political significance.
However, DUBAWA found no reports from credible Ghanaian media organisations confirming that the NPP issued such a statement.
The absence of independent media reports further weakens the credibility of the circulating document.
The account has a history of sharing similar unverified NPP-related directives
DUBAWA’s review of the Facebook account “NPP Official GH360” found that the account has previously shared similar posts presented as official directives, announcements or statements from the New Patriotic Party.
These posts often use the party’s logo, branding elements and names of NPP executives to create the appearance of official communication. However, some of the materials shared by the account cannot be traced to the party’s verified communication platforms.
The repeated publication of such unverified NPP-related materials indicates a pattern of sharing content that can easily be mistaken for genuine party communication.
While DUBAWA could not independently establish the motive behind these posts, the account’s history of sharing similar unauthenticated statements raises concerns about the potential spread of misleading information, particularly on issues involving the activities, leadership and public position of a major political party.
The public is therefore encouraged to verify political statements through official party channels and trusted media organisations before accepting or sharing them.
Conclusion
The claim that the New Patriotic Party issued a statement condemning Bishop Owusu Bempah over his prediction about the party’s chances in the next general election is false.
