President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the first time has broken his silence on the “Agyapadie” book which has been in circulation for some time now, describing it as the biggest fabrication deployed to mar his image and credibility for electoral purposes.
According to him, he has been the target of numerous false and malicious stories aimed at attacking his credibility and integrity over the years and the “Agyapadie” document was the recent attempt to achieve same.
The document which first surfaced in the lead up to the 2020 general election, had found its way back into the public sphere and have been in circulation for some time now.
Purported to have been authored by close associates of the President, the book outlines a well-documented scheme of activities rolled out to annex state resources for the good of the President, his immediate family and ethnic group.
However, speaking at the opening of The Ghana Report Summit in Accra yesterday, the President said the document was a fabricated narrative carefully put out there by his opponents to undermine his political career.
The summit organised by I-Zar was on the theme: “Dealing with Misinformation and Disinformation – Election 2024,” and highlighted the dangers of fake news, misinformation and disinformation on the country’s democratic process.
President Akufo-Addo explained that he remained the single politician in the country whose political career had been fraught with barrage of unfounded allegations and accusations all to destroy his integrity.
Recounting his experience with misinformation and disinformation, he said disinformation campaigns often exploited societal divisions and amplified existing tensions while posing a risk to social cohesion.
“We have witnessed how such campaigns can incite violence and disrupt public order, as seen in other parts of the world. In the run-up to the 2008, 2012, and 2016 presidential elections, I was the target of numerous false and malicious stories aimed at attacking my credibility and integrity.
In 2008, baseless allegations of drug trafficking were spread, along with numerous rumours about my health, intended to cast doubt on my ability to serve as President. President Kufuor was also accused in 2008 of having sold all of Ghana’s gold reserves. Again, the 2012 elections saw false reports of my alleged arrest in London for drug possession and fabricated quotes designed to stir ethnic tensions. In 2016, it was alleged by sympathisers of the opposition that I had killed my late wife,” he said.
In addition, he said “Today, with a few months to the December 2024 elections, they are at it again. A fabricated document, entitled “Agyapadie” is being peddled around by operatives of the opposition as evidence of a grand scheme by my party to annex the state, the assets of the state.”
The Ga Mantse, King Tackie TeikoTsuru II, emphasised the importance of this year’s elections in the context of Africa’s democratic development.
He said elections were a critical part of strengthening democratic institutions and building resilient governance structures, adding that “The upcoming elections are not just about choosing leaders; they are about affirming our commitment to democracy and the values we hold dear.”
To this end the Ga Mantse called on all stakeholders to play their roles effectively, to ensure free and fair elections, adding that “The Police Service and the Electoral Commission should maintain their integrity and uphold their duties.”
The National Security Minister, Mr Albert Kan Dapaah, said misinformation and disinformation could create harmful perceptions and fuel divisions in the country.
The Chief Executive of I-Zar, Ms Rashida Saani, said “Misinformation and disinformation undermine our democratic processes, erode public trust, and destabilise society.”
She explained that the goal of the summit was to explore strategies to address these threats and ensure that the electoral process remains transparent and credible.
BY CLIFF EKUFUL & AGNES OPOKU SARPONG
