Blame President Mahama – Koku Anyidoho on political insults

Former Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Koku Anyidoho has suggested that President John Dramani Mahama should be blamed for the political insults that have engulfed the country.

The Founder and President of the Atta Mills Institute made the point while speaking on Kessben Maakye in Accra, where he questioned whether politicians were doing enough to address abusive conduct associated with their political interests.

“We cannot just sit down and condemn the wider phenomenon. Political actors must confront the individuals within their own circles who engage in abusive commentary,” Anyidoho said.

He specifically cited US-based commentator Kevin Taylor, saying he’s the main architect with this new trajectory.

Anyidoho also challenged the distinction between people who openly identify themselves when making insulting comments and those who operate anonymously like Ghana Jollof on social media.

“What is the difference between somebody who shows his face and insults people and somebody who hides behind social media and does the same thing?” he asked.

He pressed the point further by questioning why anonymity should make a difference when the conduct remains the same.

“Why should we make a distinction between somebody who shows his face and somebody who is anonymous when both are engaging in the same kind of abusive commentary?” Anyidoho asked.

His comments follow President John Dramani Mahama’s remarks on Kevin Taylor, saying he had never met or spoken with the US-based commentator.

Mahama indicated that he would raise concerns about Taylor’s alleged insults through Taylor’s father, whom the President knows.

Anyidoho argued that political actors should not limit their response to public condemnation when individuals connected to their political environment engage in abusive commentary.

He said those who benefit politically from people who attack and malign others must also accept responsibility for the consequences.

“If you can hire people to insult and malign others for your gain, then you must be ready for the repercussions,” he stated.