Governance watcher Dr Emmanuel Akwetey says the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin North must show gratitude to his party for the loyalty and support he enjoyed when he was arrested on treason charges.
Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong was arrested after making intemperate statements during the biometric registration exercise. The MP was charged with treason felony and making genocidal comments.
The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) - of which the MP is an influential member – dissociated itself from the comments but fell short of denouncing him and completely condemning his actions.
The party stood firmly behind Ken throughout his ordeal with security officials and subsequently gave him a heroic welcome at the party’s headquarters after he was granted bail.
Critics warned the party will pay dearly for making a hero out of a man whose comments had the potential to incite ethnic violence. However, Mr Agyapong seems not to appreciate the level of support the NPP accorded him.
In a recent outburst, he accused some leading members of the party of betraying him and failing to do enough for him when he needed them most.
But Dr Akwetey, who is the Executive Director of Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG) said Ken “didn’t deserve the soft spot touch that the party (NPP) gave him.”
“So I think the party has done him a great deal of favour,” he added.
Dr Akwetey said the NPP should have disciplined Mr Agyapong for making comments that have the potential to decrease its fortunes in the upcoming elections in December.
He said Mr Agyapong must rather be grateful for the party’s act of loyalty in the face of stiff opposition by a nation that was incensed by his comments.
“I think Kennedy Agyapong should rather be happy that his party still stands by him, he doesn’t deserve it,” he stated.
Meanwhile a Deputy Communications Director of the NPP, Samuel Awuku has stated that the party will continue to stand by Mr Ken Agyapong as the State tries to prove allegations of genocide and terrorist acts against him.
He sharply discounted claims by the MP that the party had abandoned him in his time of need, saying the NPP provided both legal and moral support as well as making available to him party structures.
The NPP still regards Ken as a leading member of the party and a major financier, Sammy Awuku noted.
He said the party will not gag Ken from expressing dissenting views.
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