�I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflections. It�s the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles into death��Thomas Paine.
Last Tuesday, July 2, 2013, is a day that would forever be etched in my medulla. It is a day two people I adore and respect met with contrasting fortunes. One gained his freedom after a hard struggle against his oppressors for over 12 moons; while the other surrendered his freedom to the state in mind-boggling circumstances. Incidentally, both gentlemen respond to the name Ken, hence the choice of today�s title.
Kennedy Agyapong is the Osono Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin North Constituency. He is not only outspoken, but also a thorn in the flesh of the Zu-za government. But for his eagle eyes which detected the carefully-orchestrated plan by members of the looting brigade to milk this country dry, the smelly and dubious judgment debt payments to Agbesi Woyome and others would never have become public knowledge. The revelation, no doubt, further soiled the already tainted image of those standing under the eagle-headed Umbrella. It also made nonsense of Zu-za�s much touted probity and accountability slogan. After the revelation, Hon. Ken became enemy number one to the Zu-za party. They tried all manner of strategies to get him.
But knowing very well that they were after him, he did his best to avoid the traps they set for him. The tax revenue authorities in particular were used in intimidating him and his two media houses, Oman FM and Net2 TV. After a thorough scrutiny of their books, nothing untoward was found. The Zu-za government waited with bated breath as they prayed for him to slip, so they could show him their �krakye� powers.
Their prayer was answered when, out of anger, Ken made an inflammatory statement in reaction to the mayhem being unleashed on his party people by Nii Lantey�s thugs, during the 2012 biometric registration exercise. He was arrested in a Rambo-style, detained for more than the stipulated 48 hours, and then finally charged with bizarre charges such as attempted terrorism, genocide and treason. But the presiding judge read between the lines and granted him bail.
The first two charges were later dropped, leaving the treason charge to hang on his neck. For close to 14 moons, his counsel engaged in a legal battle with the country�s highly biased A-G�s office. The court finally acquitted and discharged Hon. Ken last Tuesday.
If Abusuapanin would recall, it was this same case that led to the infamous bulldozer-kill-ant theory by the then Vice President What-The-Hell. In reaction to President Kufuor�s assertion that the government�s response on the matter was like using a sledgehammer to kill an ant, President What-The-Hell said a sledgehammer was even too small a tool for him. He said he would prefer using a bulldozer to kill the ant. Now that the ant has escaped the fiery attack by his bulldozer, one cannot help but wonder if he is going to repair the damage the bulldozer has caused. Kai, it is a big shame!
I leapt for joy when news of Hon. Ken�s acquittal reached me. But the joy was short-lived as his namesake, Ken Kuranchie, Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Searchlight newspaper, lost his freedom a few hours later. Ken was cited for contempt by the Supreme Court for an editorial he wrote in his newspaper. He was invited to the court to purge himself of the contempt charges levelled against him. Ken, however, did not find anything wrong with his write-up. Upon pressure from the bench and his legal team, he offered a conditional apology, which did not go down well with the Justices. He was eventually found guilty of criminal contempt and subsequently sentenced to 10 days in jail.
As Ken stood in the dock and boldly defended his stance, I remembered an advice my late Dad gave me, �There is a price to pay for every choice. Always defend what you believe in. And if you must die, die with honour. Do not be a coward and die like a fowl.�
Many persons now hold Ken in high esteem because he did not piss in his pants like a coward. They even respect him the more because he stood by his principles despite knowing the grave consequence. He chose the path of activists and has paid with his freedom as many activists do. Indeed, activists are the most crucial members of human society. Why? They blaze the trail for the rest of us to follow. Great activists like Nelson Mandela, Dr. Kwame Okro and Dr. J.B. Danquah easily come to mind.
There is a price to pay for standing by one�s convictions. If the price Ken has to pay is to serve 10 days in prison, so be it! Even if he were wrong, he stood for what he believed in; and for that alone many will continue to respect him.
Ken, I leave you with these words of encouragement from Hailee, �Be strong because things will get better. It might be stormy now, but it can�t rain forever.�
See you next week for another interesting konkonsa!
Source: Agya Kwaku Ogboro/Daily Guide
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