Recent developments in Ghanaian politics have brought the issue of corruption to the fore, with media personality Kevin Taylor challenging Member of Parliament Kennedy Agyapong over his affiliations.
Agyapong, a board member at Ghana Gas and a vocal member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has recently been in the spotlight for his own allegations against the NPP.
Taylor asserts that Ken Agyapong, who sits on the board of Ghana Gas, has greatly benefited from the Akufo-Addo administration and has gained more financial advantages from the current administration than anyone else.
He made these remarks while commenting on a series of statements made by Agyapong against the NPP and the President Akufo-Addo administration.
Taylor, who is a popular critic of the current administration, did not understand why Agyapong who “is basically still working for the Akufo-Addo administration”, would say the government is embroiled in corruption, when the latter according to Taylor is a key beneficiary.
“If Kennedy tells you NPP members are thieves, who are the thieves? He is a first class criminal, because as we speak today, he is still serving a criminal. Kennedy Agyapong is serving Bawumia, he is serving Akufo-Addo, he is serving NPP as the board chair of Ghana Gas.
Kevin Taylor underlined the apparent contradiction in Mr Agyapong’s stance, stating that while Agyapong publicly accuses his party members of corruption, he continues to work with them. Taylor also noted that Agyapong still benefits from contracts awarded by COCOBOD, a state-owned entity, and that his wife continues to earn from her position at the Ghana Shippers Authority.
Taylor challenged Agyapong by asking that, if he indeed felt the NPP government was dishonest, “Why doesn’t [he] resign from the Ghana gas board? Why doesn’t he tell his wife that after almost 8 years, she should step down as the board chair of Ghana shippers authority? No. But he is standing in front of you telling you NPP members are thieves. The guy is a thief. He contradicts himself. He is basically still employed by Akufo-Addo. Why is it that you have not rejected what Akufo-Addo gave to you to make money out of?”
On October 2, 2023, Ken Agyapong was reported to have accused the NPP of corruption and looting public funds. He indicated that the extent of this alleged looting was deeply concerning and claimed that these stolen funds were being stashed abroad.
However, Agyapong later clarified that his comments were taken out of context. He explained that the video containing his remarks had been edited to create a misleading impression.