Investigate Kennedy Agyapong’s stealing allegation — Arthur K.

A former flag-bearer aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Arthur Kobina Kennedy, has described as “not credible”, his party chairman’s response to allegations of theft and corruption against him and other national executives.

The Assin Central Member of Parliament, Kennedy Agyapong, who called Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey and his cohorts “thieves”, claimed the executives hoarded dozens of motorbikes and other materials he personally imported to increase the NPP’s 2012 campaign.

He alleged that the national executives were now releasing and distributing the bikes to boost their individual chances ahead of the party’s forthcoming national executive election in March.

According to Mr Kennedy, none of the current “corrupt” executives deserved re-election.

He has therefore threatened to devote US$20 million toward forming his own party to dilute the NPP’s chances of regaining power in the 2016 elections, if the current crop of leaders retained their positions.

In a statement released yesterday, Dr Kennedy said though he presumed all those accused by Mr Agyapong were innocent until proven guilty, he nonetheless considered Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey’s claim that he was unaware of Mr Agyapong’s contributions to the party’s election campaigns as lacking credibility.

“However, on the face of it, the allegations are credible enough that they deserve a vigorous and credible investigation. While I respect and consider Jake a friend, his claim that he is unaware of Mr. Agyapong’s contributions to our last two campaigns is simply not credible.”

He said though he disagreed with Mr Agyapong’s method of tackling the issue, he expected a much more credible response from Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey.

“The way that Mr. Agyapong made his allegations and the responses have left much to be desired,” Dr. Kennedy said.

According to him, “there have been attempts by people associated with Jake to impugn the accuser’s credibility and to question the source of his wealth”.

“In that exercise, things have been said that may come back to haunt us,” he warned, adding that: “Regardless of how Mr. Agyapong made his money, that is not the subject at hand. After all the NPP, which has accepted his help for years should be the last to question the legitimacy of his wealth.”

He also said it was important the party investigated the allegations through an objective panel set up by the Council of Elders, because those who have been accused cannot be judges in their own court.

“Those who have been tarred by these allegations deserve an opportunity to clear their names. Unfortunately, the very leaders who are required, morally to investigate these charges, are the subjects of the allegations. There is a clear conflict-of-interest. Jake et al cannot investigate Jake et al,” he noted.

He added that: “All executives found culpable must make restitution to the party and be barred from office for some time.”

“If his allegations are found to be without merit, Hon. Kennedy Agyapong must be sanctioned,” Dr. Kennedy also mentioned.

He said failure by the party to investigate the matter would rob its eventual flagbearer for 2016 of the moral justification to accuse the Mahama administration of similar crimes.

“I urge Nana Akufo-Addo, Alan Kyerematen, Dr. Apraku, Isaac Osei, Frimpong Boateng and all others who aspire to lead this party to join me in this call. Charity begins at home. Let us begin fighting corruption, right here at home.”