How come, that, a self professed “thief” wants becomes the President of the Republic of Ghana? The presidency is not for the “Stealer”
Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyepong’s recent admission that he is “among thieves” should alarm every Ghanaian who values integrity in public life. How can a man who openly calls himself a thief aspire to lead a nation that is already struggling with endemic corruption? Leadership begins with moral credibility, and a self-professed “thief” has no place in the presidency.
During an interview on Net 2 TV in 2022, Kennedy Agyepong stated, translated from Twi:
“Show me one politician in Ghana who has become rich through politics, and I will show you a thief. If you say you are a politician and you have a huge house and cars, you are a thief. I AM ALSO A THIEF.”
This statement was not only reckless but self-incriminating. Even if meant as sarcasm or exaggeration, it reveals a dangerous normalization of corruption in Ghanaian politics. To describe oneself as a thief and still seek the highest office in the land is not candour, it is hypocrisy.
The presidency is not a stage for populist theatrics or confessions without repentance. It is a sacred office that demands honesty, restraint, and unimpeachable character. When a politician trivializes corruption, he undermines public trust and weakens the moral fabric of governance.
Kennedy Agyepong’s strategy is clear: he seeks to portray himself as “brutally honest” and different from other politicians by admitting what many suspect. But this false humility only deepens public cynicism. Admitting wrongdoing does not make one virtuous; it only confirms moral failure. Ghana cannot afford leaders who weaponize confession to excuse misconduct.
Article 94 of the 1992 Constitution disqualifies anyone convicted of fraud or dishonesty from serving in Parliament. While Mr. Agyepong has not been legally convicted, his public admission raises legitimate ethical questions about his suitability for the presidency. Integrity must be both a legal and moral qualification for leadership.
If integrity still matters in this republic, no amount of money, rhetoric, or populist appeal should allow a self-confessed “thief” to occupy the Jubilee House. Ghana deserves leaders who embody truth, not those who make dishonesty sound normal.
The NPP delegates, and indeed all Ghanaians, must remember: the presidency is not a reward for loudness or bravado, it is a covenant of trust. We cannot entrust our future to one who admits to betraying that trust.
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By Osɔfo Nii Naate Atswele Agbo Nartey
