Gabby Otchere-Darko (L) says he is disappointed in Kemi Badenoch (R) on the reparations issue
A leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko has rebuked UK Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch for her 'disappointing' remarks on reparations.
He argued that her stance fails to acknowledge the enduring legal and moral arguments for addressing the atrocities of the transatlantic slave trade.
Why US voted against Ghana's resolution to declare slavery a crime against humanity
His reaction follows remarks by Badenoch, Member of Parliament for North West Essex, in response to a United Nations vote on Ghana’s resolution seeking to declare slavery a crime against humanity and push for reparations.
Badenoch had expressed displeasure over the decision by the UK’s representative at the United Nations to abstain from the vote, instead of taking a clear position by voting against the resolution.
She argued that Britain played a key role in ending slavery and should not be made to pay reparations for what she described as a practice the country helped to stop.
“Russia, China and Iran vote with others to demand trillions in reparations from UK taxpayers…and the Labour government abstain! Britain led the fight to end slavery. Why didn’t Starmer’s representative vote against this? Ignorance…or cowardice? We shouldn’t be paying for a crime we helped eradicate and still fight today,” Badenoch wrote on X on March 26, 2026.
Responding to her comments on the same platform on Friday, March 27, 2026, Otchere-Darko openly conveyed his disappointment in Badenoch’s position.
Providing historical context to his argument, he outlined Britain’s dual role in both the transatlantic slave trade and its eventual abolition.
“I am disappointed in Kemi Badenoch and I suspect many Black British conservatives are too. Britain, which played a central role in the transatlantic slave trade, also saw the early campaign against it driven by Tory evangelicals like William Wilberforce in the early 1800s. But it took a Whig government, under Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, to pass the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833, ending slavery across most of the Empire while compensating slave owners, NOT THE ENSLAVED,” he stated.
He further explained that political caution at the time influenced how abolition was approached, particularly among conservatives.
“And even then, caution shaped the politics. Tory instincts then leaned toward protecting economic and imperial interests, be wary of disruption,” Otchere-Darko argued.
Drawing a connection between history and present-day leadership, Otchere-Darko argued that such a legacy should inspire progressive thinking rather than defensive positions.
“Which brings us to today. That history should not be used to retreat into old positions. It should be a platform for new leadership thinking and under the first Black Briton to lead the Tories. A woman of 100% black West African parentage,” he noted.
He also urged Badenoch to use her background and position to advance a more constructive global conversation.
“Kemi has an opportunity, given her heritage and position, to move this conversation forward: not by merely amplifying defensiveness, but by helping shape a modern response rooted in honesty and partnership. It is in the interest of Britain to invest in Africa’s economic transformation efforts and even if in ways that support British economic interest,” he urged.
Expanding on this, he emphasised the need for forward-looking engagement between Britain and Africa.
He concluded with a caution on the potential political implications of Badenoch’s stance.
“The real question today is not about relitigating the past, but about how Britain chooses to engage its legacy, through meaningful support for Africa’s development, trade, and integration in a way that reflects both history and shared future and in a way that will practically make Africa more attractive to her young people than the lure to migrate to places like Britain,” he asserted.
Ghana's Colonial Masters: Why UK and Netherlands didn't support resolution on slavery
“Kemi, don’t make the Conservative Party less attractive to Britain’s growing black middle-class and all,” he added.
The landmark resolution adopted by the UN saw 123 member states voting in favour, while 3 voted against it, with 53 member states including the UK abstaining from voting.
Russia, China and Iran vote with others to demand trillions in reparations from UK taxpayers…and the Labour government abstain!
— Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) March 26, 2026
Britain led the fight to end slavery.
Why didn’t Starmer’s representative vote against this? Ignorance…or cowardice?
We shouldn’t be paying for a… https://t.co/nWlzBxhb5w
I am disappointed in Kemi Badenoch and I suspect many Black British conservatives are too.
— Gabby Otchere-Darko (@GabbyDarko) March 27, 2026
Britain, which played a central role in the transatlantic slave trade, also saw the early campaign against it driven by Tory evangelicals like William Wilberforce in the early 1800s. But… https://t.co/xiqxjkFWsX
Why UK and Netherlands, Ghana’s colonial masters, didn’t support resolution on slavery
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