Honorable Kennedy Ohene Agyapong is a member of parliament who has announced his plans for the presidency, and it is refreshing to see new faces popping up. This article is to measure the character of this man and by that, let’s see how he selflessly saved all of us from an ‘investigative terrorist’. He is an embodiment of fearlessness, and he has saved reasonable Ghanaians from the snares of ‘a blackmailer, a corrupt, an extortionist and evil’ cabal operating in the name of journalism.
When Anas Aremeyaw Anas dropped an expose on the Ghana Football Association, the GFA, people jumped on the internet and the air waves to chastise the supposed culprits and 99% of these angry Ghanaians did not even want to listen to the other side of this story.
Every single story online and in print came with insults to the GFA and its executives especially the then president, Mr. Kwasi Nyantakyi and most people could not even question the motive. So why are people so quick to jubilate over a fellow human being’s failures or downfall?
So, a journalist just lured people into a supposed business transaction and then sells tickets out for people to come and see an edited one-sided conversation between two people and Ghanaians are not allowed to question it? Was it that, Ghanaians were supposed to swallow his words whole without interrogation because he was a saint?
Guess the surprise when educated and well-informed and experienced people jumped on the bandwagon to chastise the culprits and heaped praises on the so-called investigative journalist.
But every smart being could tell this was nothing but a self-aggrandizement of an investigative journalist, who only sold to the highest bidder.
Just as some people amongst us envisaged, the documentary only satisfied Ghanaians who wanted Mr Kwasi Nyantakyi out of office. It was all about, getting rid of the man regardless his offence.
Powerless Ghanaians could do nothing but rant on Facebook and radio and face baseless and inane arguments from closed minded netizens. Fair-minded people knew they were right and hoped that it gets to the point where people will open their minds to the other side of the story although it was going to take time.
Many people were therefore overjoyed when smart and some powerful people started to amplify their voices. The reality of someone with a powerful voice as Honorable Kennedy Agyapong asking the same questions as they were asking was a breath of fresh air. His voice was so loud that, Anas’ boss, Mr. Kwaku Baako was giving contradicting stories both on radio, TV and print so it became a little easier for people to see the loopholes in the Anas’ story, while it was a herculean battle honorable Ken Agyapong had just provoked.
Most Ghanaians are thankful to Honorable Kennedy Agyapong for cutting the evil and the main blackmailer and corrupt journalist to size and I believe coming events have vindicated the honorable member of Parliament and most Ghanaians are grateful.
How Did He Get Involved?
Anas has in the past released many documentaries where he named and shamed supposed corrupt people in many institutions such as the food industries, children’s homes, the prisons services, the Ghana immigration services, and the Judicial systems where he garnered many favors and easy access to the seat of the government.
At this point, he had become so powerful that, even IGP nominees allegedly were vetted by him. His documentaries are first showed to the president himself before it is shown to the public in a funfair.
As usual, from the presidency then senior journalist will start the hype on various popular TV and radio shows causing fear and panic in the institution at stake, and many will rash to try to save themselves.
So while Honorable Agyapong was on a TV network, he questioned the motives and the rationale behind the modus operandi and left the station only to receive many calls by several vulnerable victims of Anas’ mode of investigation.
This motivated him to return to the same show and laid bare his disagreement, and this led to more calls and witnesses. To the many victims, here was their chance to say their side of the story because remember, we never got the chance to hear their side of what we saw in his documentaries.
The relentless Kennedy Agyapong moved from radio to radio to provide his evidence that, Anas was not credible and that, he sold to the highest bidder. He alleged that, what Anas was doing was not investigation, rather, an entrapment of a sort. Honorable Kennedy made his allegations and backed them with evidence and even came with victims of this supposed hero who were not afraid to come on TV and radio.
Of course, many of such individuals passed away before the dust settled. Families of his deceased victims came out to also speak on the events that led to the loss of their beloved family members.
Most people were not willing to even listen to Honorable and his witnesses. He was insulted, abused, and cursed! He asked hard questions that demanded answers of which Anas has still not provided answers because he sincerely has none and he backed all his allegations with videos and pictures.
There was a public outcry by the supporters of Anas when Honorable Ken showed his pictures online. In essence, the Ghanaian populace were saying, Anas could put secretly recorded videos of his victims on video and then sell it to television stations and the internet all over the world including the BBC but Honorable Kennedy Agyapong was rebuked for putting his pictures for people to know who he was.
Many were angry with Honorable Ken not because he was asking hard questions but because, they were afraid, he was right.
Prominent journalist came on air to denigrate the honorable man and asked why he had the nerve to put out pictures of their untouchable colleague online but when they were needed to ask the questions the masses were asking, they could not and till date have not even asked Anas any of these questions. They were either afraid of him or protecting their colleague.
As expected, it is believed, Anas and his team, threw in more pictures to confuse the public and Mr. Kwaku Baako denied that the pictures shown by honorable Ken plus the ones they had added to confuse the masses were not Anas or any of his workers. That is why it became questionable when they tried to blame the sad murder of one of Anas’ employee’s or as speculated, his former employee at the time of his gruesome murder on the pictures he showed.
So, when those who took Honorable Ken to the cleaners saw the mountain of evidence as presented by him, what prevented them from also analyzing his evidence? Why couldn’t any one of those journalists ask Anas the same questions? was it a case of the journalist protecting their own or they were too embarrassed and afraid of the truth?
Also why isn’t anybody interrogating the conditions of service of the many young men who put their lives on the line for Anas to bask in their glory and take all the shine, the money and fame that comes with it? Additionally, why hasn’t anyone questioned him for the gruesome murder of his right-hand man at the time when the walls were closing in on him? Is there no investigative journalist in Ghana who could put the circumstances leading to his murder and the timing of Anas posting on his social media platforms and him pointing fingers? The answer is no one cares.
Any person would have given up on such an expensive battle. This involved huge investment of money, energy, mental strength and personal relations and Honorable Ken Agyapong did all this by himself. He was his own speaker, director of the videos he showed, financier and witness in the five years of this battle. I do not believe any single individual could do this and this is commendable for the Honorable Ken, who is one of the busiest persons in Ghana.
There was nothing in this for Ken, after all, he was not a victim and none of his family members had been a victim of this Machiavellian antics, but he took it upon himself to fight for the soul of the country.
In what universe does it make sense for the whole country to be held to ransom by one individual? How does every single Ghanaian sit down for one man to disgrace all its prominent institutions on the international stage for money and awards? What did the citizens of Ghana receive in return?
As for the judges who sat down unconcern for this man to enjoy a free pass over their hard earned reputation and noble profession, the least said about them, the better and they must be ashamed of themselves.
Has anyone even bothered to ask why the opposition party, NDC, could not even use this to their advantage? Anyone who attributed politics to this should be honest to ask this simple question. The opposition party could not hold Honorable Ken and his party responsible for any war against journalists because Anas was holding all of them by the balls and inwardly, they were happy he was being exposed for his entrapment. A clear vindication of Hon Ken’s allegations. This battle had nothing to do with the two parties and they both stayed away and let the Honorable man and Anas go to war.
Today Honorable Ken is still in court fighting those he denigrated in the mist of his outbursts and the frustration that came with his persistence to finish what he had started. In his anger he had made certain pronouncements, and some took him on.
This goes to show that, only a rich and powerful person like Ken Agyapong could stop this nonsense of a greedy investigator.
Honorable Ken Agyapong has once again given all Ghanaians the freedom to live in their own country without fear. Remember Anas’ methods had nothing to do with your character, it was entrapment, and anybody could be a victim at any time. He had a list of his next targets. He only wanted to be powerful in those institutions and the country as a whole.
The fact is, Anas was and is still no hero as he has caused more harm than good to our institutions such as our judiciary, and the GFA, and he has also killed our once in a lifetime opportunity for a Ghanaian to lead Africa football and totally worsen the situation of our beloved football.
What Ghana can do to stop corruption is not Anas. It is our desire to uphold our moral values and know that every little thing counts that will slow and prevent corruption.
This man has enriched himself at the expense of people and taking advantages of people including presidents to the extent of being called to the bar at a private ceremony and free access to the seat of government with his amateur and foolish journalism.
After close to a five long legal battle, Hon Ken Agyapong finally won the defamation court case brought against him by Anas and majority of Ghanaians are happy about the verdict. This ruling was just an icing on the cake for the many Ghanaians who sided with the Honorable MP.
If we truly want to stop corruption, we should start by not paying our way out of trouble. Not giving the policeman anything for a mere stop even before he tells us why he stopped us.
As a nation, we must be proud that, we have a strong man like Kennedy Agyapong whom many can rely on to provide justice. He has and continue to fight for the youth and the poor by creating several employment avenues and offering of scholarships to the poor and needy students. Ken Agyapong becoming the next president of Ghana will most certainly be beneficial to Ghanaians.
By Bright Nkansah,
Accra, Ghana