Ghana Police faces competency test as being dared to arrest Kennedy Agyapong for threatening to kill John Mahama

The Police CID is facing a credibility and fairness challenge as Ghanaians are waiting for their reaction to threats on the life of former president John Mahama issued by Member of Parliament of Assin Central Kennedy Agyapong.

The Central regional NDC has dared the Police to arrest of Assin Central lawmaker Kennedy Agyepong for threatening and insulting former President on live TV.

The lawmaker, who is a leading member of the ruling NPP, is seen in a viral video on social media attacking Mr Mahama and accusing him of being behind recent market fires in the country.

He threatened to burn the former president alive, pouring a barrage of insult on the NDC leader.

There has been wide condemnation from Ghanaians and are calmly waiting to see if the Police will have the balls to call invite the MP, who is well known for off-the-cut remarks.

“While Kennedy Agyapong has been known to survive on insults and anti-democratic conducts in the public space, a direct threat to cause harm to leading political figures in this country is one mile too far especially with his recent past in focus – where he threatened, on a live TV programme, the life of renowned journalist, Ahmed Suale, for which the latter was subsequently murdered in cold-blood.

Mr Agyapong in April 2012,  was arrested after he was invited by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service over treasonable  statements he allegedly made on his Accra-based radio station, Oman FM.

He was later freed as the court was of the opinion that the prosecution was not able to provide evidence to substantiate the allegations.

But the NDC in its statement issued on Thursday 24th 2020, challenged the Ghana Police to rise beyond "politisan patronage" to deal with his spontaneity, which  it says has  a "tendency to disturb the peace and cohesion of the country".

"We have, however,noted with concern, the tendency of some officials and institutions of the state to pander to partisan political patronage against the direct mandate bestowed on them by the 1992 Constitution. We want to see the police service discharge its mandate impartially on this matter and bring Mr Agyapong to book in order to gain the trust of the masses”.

Below is the full statement

*NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS (NDC)*

*CENTRAL REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS*

All Media Houses
Cape Coast
24/12/2020

*ARREST KENNEDY AGYAPONG NOW*

We want to draw the attention of the Ghana Police Service to an incendiary statement from Mr. Kennedy Agyapong on a live TV programme which has since being widely circulated on social media.

In the said video, Mr. Agyapong sought to order arsonists at his command to burn down residential properties of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, Rtd Col. Larry Gbevlo-Lartey, Capt (Rtd) Joshua Hamidu Akamba and Lawyer Baba Jamal. Beyond his threats, he also hurled offensive and unprintable insults at the personalities of the aforementioned individuals.

We urge the police, as a matter of urgency, to arrest Mr. Agyapong for his life-threatening and unfortunate comments which have the tendency to disturb the peace and cohesion of the country.

While Kennedy Agyapong has been known to survive on insults and anti-democratic conducts in the public space, a direct threat to cause harm to leading political figures in this country is one mile too far especially with his recent past in focus - where he threatened, on a live TV programme, the life of renowned journalist, Ahmed Suale, for which the latter was subsequently murdered in cold-blood.

The NDC is a democratic party and believes in the power of the state to rein in characters like Kennedy Agyapong. We have, however,noted with concern, the tendency of some officials and institutions of the state to pander to partisan political patronage against the direct mandate bestowed on them by the 1992 Constitution. We want to see the police service discharge its mandate impartially on this matter and bring Mr Agyapong to book in order to gain the trust of the masses.

The consequences of the state’s failure in maintaining law and order by protecting the citizenry is obvious to all . We make this call knowing well that there are a great number of individuals in the service committed to the security of our beloved country. We need not remind the police of the swift manner with which a Power FM journalist was recently arrested and detained for days and currently being prosecuted for allegedly insulting and threatening President Nana Akufo-Addo.

Kindly accept our felicitations for the season and do this country the service you swore to discharge in fairness and integrity to all manner of persons.

Long live Ghana

Signed:

Hon. Kwesi Dawood
Regional Communication Officer