One of the major occurrences in the build-up to the 2016 general elections was the emergence of a book christened “Agyapadie.”

The 38-page document, which had no recognized author, featured the Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, on the cover photo, and President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his father Akufo-Addo on the following page.

The book is essentially the Bible of a supposed plot for total state capture by some powerful persons of Akyem descent, with the sole aim of establishing the Akyem kingdom as the most powerful in the country.

In its ‘Table of Contents,’ the book breaks down the various aspects of Ghanaian life that the cabal, dubbed the ‘Akyem Mafia,’ intended to control, making the rest of the country acquiescent to the dictates of the selected Akyem.

From chieftaincy to the economy to politics and all aspects of Ghanaian society, the book outlines a detailed plan by the supposed Akyems to establish total dominance and ensure that the running of the country is done at their beck and call.

The book predicts key happenings in the country, including changes in leadership at the Social Security and National Insurance Trust, the collapse of indigenous Ghanaian banks and financial institutions, and the deliberate and conscious positioning of the Okyenhene as the most powerful chieftaincy institution in the country, among others.

In the religious sphere, certain powerful and popular men of God who were deemed opponents of the regime were going to be targeted and destroyed, while those believed to be in favor of the government were going to be supported.

Why the document is back in the news now

Owing to the goodwill that Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo enjoyed then and the timing of the release, which coincided with the elections, the document was outrightly rejected as many believed it was a propaganda tool.

However, happenings in the first term of the Akufo-Addo administration and recent events have reignited conversations around the document, with most people forming conspiracies about the authenticity of the book.

Okyenhene’s reaction

While officialdom has remained silent on the book and treated it with contempt, the Okyenhene has been compelled to rubbish its relevance following recent claims by some persons, particularly members of the opposition National Democratic Congress.

"We saw this during the period of J.B. Danquah, and we’re seeing this now. In and around October 2016, about a few months before the election, the same document known as the ‘Akyem Project’ was in circulation. The focus of that was to fan hatred between Okyeman and Asanteman to undermine the electoral efforts of Nana Akufo-Addo. Unfortunately for them, it came too late to the election."

"This diabolic plan was revised in 2019. In the year 2020, when the Agyapa business became a political issue, the book suddenly metamorphosed into ‘Agyapadie,’" Okyenhene noted in a State Council meeting at Kyebi.

“Many kingdoms have seen greater development over the years, but some people always have issues whenever the government decides to bring development to Okyeman. I have heard things in recent times. The funniest of it is that I am the richest chief in Ghana. I mean, how? Anyway, when anyone regards you as a rich person, you must receive it. I received it,” Okyenhene said with a smile.

Arthur Kennedy believes in the conspiracies

Dr. Arthur Kennedy, a leading member of the NPP, holds a divergent view to that of Okyenhene as he believes in the content of the book.

“That is all part of the state capture, and the whole Agyapadie document is a blueprint for state capture,” he stressed.

“The problem we have in our country is that there are a lot of people in our public space and governments whose sole purpose, regardless of the policy initiative, is to figure out how to milk the public space and transfer public resources into private hands for it to become private wealth. That is why there is so much incompetence, he said on JoyNews on Saturday, July 26, 2024

EK