Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong has expressed immense disappointment and pain about recent happenings in connection with the chaos that occurred at the University of Education, Winneba.
Mr. Agyapong, angered by the contents of a statement released by the police administration and what he terms as misconstruction of events by the media, bared his heart out during an interview on Asempa FM, detailing the issues as they happened and vowing to stay ‘mute’ on any and every issue that arises in this country henceforth.
News reports suggested that Mr. Agapong had been ‘warned’ in a statement written and signed by ACP David Eklu, Director General after he supposedly ‘aggressively’ told a serving police officer that he would ensure his dismissal during a student demonstration.
“The Police Administration, therefore, takes very strong exception to the behavior of Mr Kennedy Agyapong who is a Member of Parliament and advises him to be mindful of his actions towards Police Officers whilst performing their lawful duties”, parts of the statement read.
Reacting to this however, Ken Agyapong described the police administration as being rash for not following due process to ascertain the crux of the subject but rather emerging with a statement intended to ‘disgrace’ and mar his hard earned reputation.
He narrated the events that led to his actions Thursday as follows;
“We went to the University of Education, Winneba. We were invited by Education Minister to come and help solve the chaos that was in the school. Education Minister organized the meeting well enough, and we reached an understanding.
The council Chair said he had received a call about the protests and destruction taking place on campus. So we waited after there was a little calm and then we went.
There were three sects; the suspended lecturers, the protesting students and the police team. The lecturers explained to me that there hadn’t been any chaos up until the arrival of the police so I told them to be patient so I could talk to the police.
While going though, the students were pelting stones and protesting, I told them to stop and I went to the police to speak to the commander and told him the issue had been solved so they should let things be. Shortly after, I heard sounds from outside so I went back to the police and explained again that the issue had been solved, they told me the students had blocked the roads with logs and stones and that they should be spoken to.
The students also said we should tell the police to release two of their students and stop releasing tear gas. So I led some of the students to the police to relay the students concerns at which point they had pulled out guns. The commander told me the students had hurt some of their people for which reason they wont hold back anymore, they’ll shoot.
I cautioned them and told one of his team members who was reiterating the point that he should be careful else I’ll ensure he is sacked because I didn’t understand that a policeman will be inciting violence.
I didn’t wait for the commander because even he had instructed that his team shoot if they came close, should I have allowed them to kill people? Do you know what would have happened if I hadn’t intervened?”.
Mr. Agyapong was bitter about what he says was misconstrued information. He said the details of the events had been misinterpreted and some others omitted.
“Apparently, stones had been pelted and the eye of one policeman had been hurt, it was so bad the Winneba hospital said they’ll have to refer him to Accra. I went to see the situation and I offered some 5,000 cedis to cater for his medical bills….why didn’t they add that when they were writing the statement? Why do I always have to be painted black”, he asked.
In this light, Mr. Agyapong vowed to keep mute on the UEW matter and every other issue that concerns the country. Focusing on his life and children will be his priority he revealed, regardless of what is happening just so he can also have a decent name and refrain from being constantly disgraced and taken for granted.
“Nobody asked me my side of the story. You will see what happens in Ghana here one day”.
“They have disgraced me so badly I can’t forgive them, I will not interfere in any of these issues, they should do their own thing. I have planned my life and that of my children, I will mind my business, I will not get involved in any of this because if I wasn’t called on, I wouldn’t even have bothered to go there for police to write such things about me. They are a stupid administration. Am I mad to just have stood up and gone to tell a police officer that he’ll be sacked? Should I have stood there for people to die? Is it wrong for me to have told him if he made statements that they should shoot, I will ensure he is sacked?”, he continued.
“You are not being fair to me at all, but if this is what you will do, I will not utter a word again, that is not my school, Ghana is not for me, however things go, I don’t care. I don’t care if Ghana burns, my constituents, everybody. I’m tired, nobody can just disgrace me, at this point in my life, I can’t do this anymore, whatever happens should happen, I will not entertain that. I will never speak for any policeman to come and tell me rubbish”, he said.
