President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo should go to court if the Agyapadie document is indeed a fabrication, former minister for the Interior and a member of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Kwame Sanaa-Poku Jantuah has said.

If the president is saying they know nothing about it, the foreword is signed by Ofori-Atta, if it is not him then they should go to court,” he said.

The Agyapadie document alleges a grand scheme by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to annex state assets.

According to President Akufo-Addo, this ‘fabricated document’ has been circulated by opposition operatives as evidence of the New Patriotic Party’s supposed plans.

In the view of Jantuah, this issue would have died a natural death if the president had not commented on it.

Speaking on the Big Issue on TV3 on Friday, August 2, he indicated that “This can go against them.”

“This would have died a natural death if the president had not commented on it,” he said.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Thursday, August 1 in an address at the Ghana Report Summit, shed light on the ‘fabricated’ narratives that have been used to undermine his political career, focusing on the “Agyapadie” document, which first surfaced in the run-up to the 2020 elections.

The Summit, themed “Dealing with Misinformation and Disinformation – Election 2024,” highlighted the dangers of false information in the democratic process.

“This baseless accusation is yet another example of the malicious tactics used to undermine my credibility and integrity,” the President stated.

President Akufo-Addo’s political career has been fraught with similar false accusations, dating back to the 2008 presidential election. During that campaign, baseless allegations of drug trafficking were spread to tarnish his image. Rumors about his health were also circulated to cast doubt on his ability to serve as President. In a particularly egregious lie, opponents accused then-President John Kufuor of selling all of Ghana’s gold reserves, a claim that was patently false.

The 2012 election cycle saw a continuation of these tactics, with false reports of Akufo-Addo’s alleged arrest in London for drug possession making headlines. Fabricated quotes designed to stir ethnic tensions were also disseminated, aiming to divide the electorate. In 2016, opponents stooped to a new low, alleging that Akufo-Addo had killed his late wife, a claim that was not only false but deeply offensive.

As the 2024 General Elections approach, the Agyapadie document is the latest in a series of lies aimed at discrediting President Akufo-Addo and his party. This fictitious narrative, like the ones before it, highlights the importance of discerning truth from falsehood and remaining vigilant against the dangers of misinformation and disinformation.

President Akufo-Addo emphasized that combating misinformation and disinformation requires a multi-faceted approach. Strengthening regulatory frameworks to hold individuals and organizations accountable for spreading false information is crucial. Collaborations with technology companies are essential to develop mechanisms for monitoring and curbing the spread of false information on digital platforms.