Agyapong apologises to Majority leader and insists Parliament has no case

The maverick Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong has apologised to the Majority Leader in Parliament for his outburst at him.

Mr Agyapong explained anger was to blame for his recent unrestrained outburst at Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who is also the Member of Parliament for Suame.

He said he could not control his anger because the Ashanti Regional Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwabena Nsenkyire had insulted him [Agyapong], arguing that he was not fit to be an MP and that if he cannot coexist with Anas in Ghana, he should pack baggage and go and live in Togo and that, he was never going to refer to him as an “Honourable MP”.

Aside that, he said his leader also joined the fray and that was why he said even though he respects Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, he was at a loss why he always wanted to disgrace him and that was the cause of his outburst.

Background

After Mr Agyapong, an NPP MP initiated his attack on ace investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, questioning his modus operandi and leveling allegations of corruption against the journalist.

The Majority Leader, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu joined the debate and challenged Agyapong to back his allegations with evidence.

“If you question his methods, does that mean you should launch a personal blistering attack on the person? Stating emphatically that he is corrupt and so on and so forth. We should be careful, especially as Members of Parliament,” Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu also an NPP MP said in a radio interview with Accra-based Citi FM.

Read also: I never said Parliament is useless – Kennedy Agyapong

Parliament angry

But reacting, Mr Agyapong in a television discussion programme described Parliament as “useless” and “cheap” for having Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu as its Majority leader.

Agyapong's conduct angered both members of the Majority and Minority and they agreed that he should be hauled before the Privileges Committee of Parliament.

When the matter was raised in Parliament, Mr Agyapong had traveled outside of Ghana. He returned this week and when he appeared on Oman FM’s political talk programme - Boiling Point - Thursday night, he admitted he erred by directing his anger towards the Majority leader.

Apology

Mr Agyapong pleaded with the Majority Leader to personally contact him in future on such matters to ask for evidence before going public against him.

He said he has personally called Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu [on telephone] to apologise but “openly, I want to say sorry to my leader.”

Related: 'GH₵25million is peanuts; I’ll pay Anas if I lose in court' - Kennedy Agyapong

Adding, he said Parliament has no case against him because he was only responding to the fact that the Gh¢11,000 remuneration from Parliament was peanuts for him in response to what Nsenkyire had said.

Related: Ken Agyapong to face Parliament's privileges committee

Mr Agyapong said he foresaw how the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) was going to spin the whole episode of Anas’s Number12 documentary on football corruption against President Akufo-Addo and that was why he also decided to dig into it and expose the wrongs in Anas’ modus operandi.

Read also: Ken Agyapong is back to show ‘Who watches the watchman’ Wed June 27

'Who watches the watchman'

He said already, from Anas' documentary, even though it was evidently clear that President Akufo-Addo did not condone Kwesi Nyantakyi's act, the NDC was spinning it in an attempt to denigrate the President.

He insisted he has his reputation on the line and that if he has no evidence to back his outbursts against Anas, he would not say so.

He said throughout his recent international trip to America and other areas, “everybody is waiting for the 'Who watches the watchman' video.”

In a jovial manner, Mr Agyapong said between himself and Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, it has been agreed that he follows his apology with a symbol of gesture to appease him [Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu].

He said between himself and Mr Nsenkyire also, they have settled their differences and that he acknowledges he was misinformed.

Writer's email: enoch.frimpong@graphic.com.gh

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