Ken Agyapong To Face ICC Prosecution?

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Parent Category: Justice & Security

Category: Law Reports

Created on Thursday, 26 April 2012 11:21

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The petition, which was presented by three members of the coalition, Mr Francis Kojo Arthur, Mr Eric Akomayi and Mr Fortune Sase, is in pursuant to Article I5 of the Rome Statute of the ICC.

Below is the full statement

PRESS STATEMENT BY THE GHANA COALITION FOR THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT RELEASED AFTER PRESENTING A PETITION TO THE ICC

We, members of the Ghana Coalition for the International Criminal Court, on Wednesday April 25, 2012 at 2pm (local time in Netherlands), presented to Mr. Luis Moreno- Ocampo, Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), on behalf of millions of Ghanaians a petition pursuant to Article 15 of the Rome Statute of the ICC.

In doing so, the Ghana Coalition for the ICC believes firmly in the view expressed by the Court on January 24, 2012 that it is better to avert future acts of genocide and violence.

The Ghana Coalition in its petition received by Mr. Ocampo here in The Hague- Netherlands, is asking the Office of the Chief Prosecutor to investigate the genocidal statements and ethnic-cleansing pronouncements of a Member of Ghana’s Parliament, Kennedy Ohene Adjepong.

Mr. Adjepong who owns a radio station, Oman 107.1 FM and a television station, Net2 TV, on Friday April 13, 2012 publicly declared on his radio station that the Akan population living in the Ashanti Region of Ghana should attack any Ewe and Ga person they come into contact with.

The Akans are one of the largest ethnic groups in Ghana, while the Gas and Ewes are two of the many ethnic groups we have in Ghana.

In a broadcast that has shocked many in Ghana and received wide spread condemnation from religious and civil society groups among others, Mr. Agyepong also announced that he has declared war. He then proceeded to challenge the National Security Coordinator of the Republic of Ghana, Colonel Larry Gbevlo- Lartey (Rtd) to arrest him if he could.

We have provided the ICC through Mr. Ocampo with audio recordings; newspaper cuttings and other evidential material necessary to enable his office consider our petition.

The three-member team from the Ghana Coalition who travelled from Accra to The Hague, in its petition to the ICC also provided enough background to the current developments in Ghana. This includes recordings and press materials that show that leading members of the opposition New Patriotic Party who have endorsed and hailed Mr. Adjepong as a hero, have over the last 12 to 24 months engaged in the broadcast of hate speeches and inciting the youth to violence.

These include the NPP’s Presidential Candidate Nana Akufo Addo, NPP National Chairman Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, NPP Youth Organiser Anthony Karbo and NPP Deputy Director of Communication Samuel Awuku.

It is the strong belief of the Ghana Coalition that Mr. Adjepong’s statements make him liable for prosecution under Article 3c of the United Nations convention on the prevention of genocide.

Ghana may be the most stable democracy in Africa with relatively strong institutions. But the examples of Kenya and Ivory Coast have shown us that the prospect of violence is real especially in a situation where the country’s Judiciary appears unwilling to punish individuals who incite or engage in violence.

We trust that the ICC will act in a timely manner to avert bloodshed so that in the years to come, regret will not be expressed, as in the case of Rwanda; particularly so as the month of April marks the 18th anniversary of the unspeakable evil perpetrated against over eight hundred persons who were slaughtered in that country.

Thank you.

Source: Peacefmonline.com