Ex-President J.A. Kufuor says it is unfortunate that his little piece of advice to government to handle the Kennedy Agyapong affair with tact by not killing a fly with a sledgehammer was met with a rather sharp riposte from the Vice President John Dramani Mahama that his administration will not hesitate in using a bulldozer to kill a fly.

The former statesman opines that it is only a confused person who will use an equipment bigger than a sledgehammer on a fly.

Speaking in an interview with Hot FM, an Accra-based private radio station, Mr Kufuor said though he condemns in no uncertain terms the manner the Assin North MP poured out his frustrations, it did not warrant the NDC capitalizing on it by slapping him with treason and terrorism charges.

He further added that despite the fact that the Mills’ administration seems to have discarded his friendly caution, he will not dither when the opportunity presents itself to tell the government to allow the security agencies and the Attorney-General’s department to work independently.

“…I think it would have been better if Vice president Mahama had understood the idiom I used when I said government was handling the Kennedy Agyapong’s case like using a sledge hammer to kill a fly…there are other charges you could have charged him with…but not treason,” he said.

Touching on the call by business magnate, Alhaji Asoma Banda and certain distinguished individuals for political parties to agree with media houses to put an end to phone-ins segments during political discussions on radio and television, ex-president Kufuor said he disagrees with that since it would be wrong to lump together all serial callers as people who phone in during political programs to prepare the grounds for abusive languages.

To him, some serial callers do make meaningful contributions and credible analysis to discussions on political issues.

“Our democracy thrives on free speech and access to information, thus denying them that right is quite worrisome…hosts of radio and television programme on politics should be attentive and ensure that callers are made to speak on issues at stake…Presenters should be held responsible if they fail to do the above, Mr. Kufour offered.**