Kennedy Agyapong, who serves as the Member of Parliament for Assin Central and is also a potential flagbearer for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has addressed a viral video, emphasising that he did not accuse the NPP of recklessly depleting the nation’s resources with no concern for the future, as depicted in the video clip.
He clarified that the video had been taken from a private meeting he held with some NPP communicators in Kumasi, Ashanti Region, over the past weekend. In the video, the Assin Central MP criticised the NPP for engaging in activities that raised serious concerns, alleging that they were “plundering” the country without considering its long-term consequences.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, Agyapong argued that the video had been intentionally edited to damage his reputation and cast a negative light on the Akufo-Addo government.
“My attention has been drawn to a video on social media that has since gone viral where I am heard saying that the NPP was looting the country as if there was not tomorrow. I wish to state that this is a complete and unfortunate misrepresentation of the actual content and focus of my message at that private event in Kumasi. It was a meeting with a small group of NPP communicators who had organised a small fundraising event for me at the weekend.
“At the event, I lamented the fact that our communicators were letting the party down and that every government would have its fair share of corruption cases, especially in 8 years, but because of one or two bad cases which the authorities were handling and in a transparent manner as it should be, we have, sadly, allowed the ruthless opposition propaganda machinery, the mass media and the social media to create the deadly impression that NPP was looting as If there was no tomorrow, including allegations of stashing funds abroad,” part of the statement read.
Agyapong went on to provide further clarification, stating that the video had been recorded during a private meeting and had been deliberately edited with the intent to sow discord, tarnish his reputation, and negatively impact the government’s standing.
“I wish to stress the point that the offending video was culled from a private meeting with some communicators in Kumasi, Ashanti Region, over the weekend and edited to purposefully create disaffection towards me, Ken Ohene, and Agyapong and to bring the Akufo-Addo government into disrepute.
“Indeed, I told the gathering not to be fooled by the lies against our government and party and also expressed my anger and unhappiness about the way we were allowing ourselves to be unfairly bashed in the media, especially social media, as if we were worse than the NDC, which is certainly not the case,” the statement further read.
Kennedy Agyapong maintained that he was focused on helping the party break the eight, as that is their mantra.
“I remain a committed member of our great party and hope to lead us in our quest to ‘break the eight’, as together, we face John Mahama and the NDC for the “showdown” on December 7, 2024,” the statement read in its concluding part.