Kennedy Agyapong, Treason, Treason Felony and Attempted Genocide

Kwesi Edukor; Email: kwesiedukor@gmail.com

Since the invitation of Hon. Kennedy Agyapong by the Criminal Investigation

Department of Ghana Police Service and his subsequent arrest over his

remarks on Friday, April 13, 2012 on Oman Fm (a radio station he owns)

there have been conflicting commentaries over charges that could be

brought against him over those remarks. The Member of Parliament (MP) for

Assin North in the Central Region essentially declared a war on ethnic and

tribal lines, as he incited Ashantis to attack Gas and Ewes, over

challenges confronting the ongoing biometric registration. The controversy

surrounding his declaration of war only heightened when the Police

eventually charged him with treason, treason felony and attempted genocide.

Supporters of Mr. Agyapong, who is also a leading member of the New

(National) Patriotic Party (NPP), have condemned the Police over the arrest

and charges brought against their unpatriotic prodigal son. However, some

well-meaning Ghanaians, civil society organizations, and some political

parties have condemned those remarks in no uncertain terms, despite NPP’s

continued refusal to specifically condemn the comments widely denounced by

others. The Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) has thrown its

weight firmly behind Agyapong and his remarks in a recent press briefing.

The controversy over the comments have arisen partly because there do not

seem to be agreement on whether the reckless MP can back his declaration of

war with action. I have reflected on the matter for some time now and find

six good reasons why the Police must take Agyapong’s war declaration as

serious as possible, and consequently apply the law in punishing him to

deter other people who may be dreaming of either following the NPP mogul or

hatching plans for the realization of the declared war. This is also to

ensure that members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and

for that matter all other political organizations distance themselves from

such move. The six reasons include the leading role Kennedy Agyapong plays

in the NPP; the colossal amount of money and other resources at his

service; tribalism in Ghanaian society; increasing political tension in

Ghana; ever-rising poverty and unemployment levels; and instability across

the sub-region and therefore how refugees and foreigners could easily be

roped in.

The leading role played by Hon. Kennedy Agyapong in both the NPP and the

Ghanaian society is not in question. It is no surprise that AFAG has

defended him and his remarks. He is the current Member of Parliament on

NPP’s ticket and the party’s parliamentary candidate for the December 2012

polls. He also plays very influential role in organization and financing of

the NPP from the constituency level through to the national level. He has

therefore grown into an authority whose submissions and instructions are

not difficult to apply and abide by within the NPP and other segments of

the Ghanaian society. The second important reason why Mr. Agyapong must be

dealt with ruthlessly by the law is the colossal amount of money and

resources under his control, and therefore the means to bring into fruition

submissions and declarations made by him. The man is awash with money very

few people comprehend the source and owns very influential media outlets

(one of which afforded him the opportunity to make those remarks). It is

therefore in the national interest and indeed those of all political

parties, including the NPP, that if a person of this caliber declares war

few months to general elections (in a continent where elections are marred

by conflicts and wars) he must face the severest wrath of the laws of this

nation. This is because if the war eventually breaks out, such a person

will be the first to abscond in seconds, leaving political parties no

nation to rule and worsen the plights of the poor.

It is important to look at the harmful remarks of the NPP magnate in a

national context. And this is a context of tribalism in the Ghanaian

society. This country has witnessed enough animosity and hatred displayed

by some ethnic groupings against others. So the declaration of war by an

influentially rich NPP MP on ethnic and tribal lines is something that

cannot be taken for granted. There are uncountable stories of wars fought

between some ethnic groups in the country so declaring a war in this

direction has all the potential “to catch the expected fire”. I am reminded

of an adage in Ghana which is literally translated as follows: used

firewood catches fire with no difficulty. And this is precisely why

reckless Agyapong’s remarks must be condemned in no uncertain terms and the

laws made to deal with him heartlessly. It is sad the NPP has failed, given

all these circumstances, to specifically condemn the remarks of such an

irresponsible arrogant, and distance itself from the remarks. But this is

something that could be related to the very first reason I noted: his

leading role in the party. Another reason why these remarks must be taken

seriously is the increased political tension in Ghana ahead of the December

2012 general elections. If one clearly listens to Agyapong’s remarks it is

easy to associate it to earlier unpleasant remarks by the party’s

flagbearer that “all die be die”, which was never retracted and therefore

heightening political tensions in the country.

My last pair of reasons borders on high levels of unemployment and poverty

in Ghana and neighbouring countries, in addition to political instability

across the sub-region. Young men and women who troop unto Ghana’s principal

streets to sell all manner of products (including dog chains) and those

roaming every corner in various cities in search scrap metals provide good

ground for somebody like Kennedy Agyapong to bring his declaration of war

into fruition. Let us note that, given the circumstances, only small

fraction of his wealth will be required to put an army together for war.

And he is intemperate and arrogant enough to do this. This can be seen in

the huge numbers of people who troop the police headquarters in response to

Agyapong’s arrest. The recent political crisis of our neighbouring Cote

d’Ivoire continue to have substantial impacts on Ghana (although these are

largely not reported), as hundreds of refugees continue to reside within

our borders. The recent coup in Mali (largely attributed to returning

Tuareg rebels from Lybia) and impacts on neighbouring Burkina Faso are

important points that must be considered in evaluating the extent to which

an influentially rich Agyapong can back his war declaration with action.

I end here with a call on Ghana Police and the Judiciary to handle this

matter in the best interest of Ghana, and in light of reasons identified

above which clearly form the basis on which the NPP MP who has declared a

war can realize his dream. Let us not forget a traditional adage which

translates literally as follows: the mouth pronounces what has been

cogitated and reflected on.