General News of Thursday, 2 October 2008

Source: The Chronicle

Allegation of using Juju to kill Minister

A Leading Member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) who fiercely contested the late Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Hon. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu in the Asante Akyem North constituency primary of the party, Mr. Andy Appiah Kubi, has threatened to sue party members who are accusing him of using juju to kill the Minister.

According to him, the innuendos and aspersions being cast at him by some of the party members in the constituency and in Accra, after the demise of Mr. Kwadwo Baah Wiredu, was meant to bring his image into disrepute and public ridicule.

He told The Chronicle that after serious consideration over the matter and the gravity of the accusations, he had no option than to take legal action against the group, to redeem his image.

Mr. Andy Appiah-Kubi, the Deputy Executive Secretary of Ghana Free Zones Board, said he was upset that after he had warned the people to desist from the act, and even forgave those who accused him wrongly, another group surfaced at the party’s headquarters in Accra, with similar demonstrations.

He told this reporter in a chat that the only way to redeem himself was to seek redress in a competent court of jurisdiction, since his accusers were wrongly accusing him. Mr. Andy Appiah-Kubi, who was called to the bar recently, was of the view that some group of people might have instigated the group to engage in such acts and that he would do everything within the legal means to seek truth and justice.

“When they started in the constituency, I warned them to stop because their accusations had no basis, after which I decided to forgive them. This morning, I learnt they came to the party headquarters, demonstrating with placards, some of which read – “Andy the murderer”, among others, he lamented.

According to him, he has asked some friends to take shots of the demonstrators and their placards, to enable him use them as evidence for court.

Mr. Appiah-Kubi denied any knowledge about the death of Mr. Baah-Wiredu, whose one-week celebration is being held at Agogo, starting yesterday. Asked whether he would contest the primary if the party opens nominations, he said, “I have always loved to serve my constituents and I will contest if nominations are opened. But the fact still remains that I knew nothing about the death of my MP. If I decline to contest, my accusers would have achieved their objective,” he said.

The visibly worried man, questioned? “Why would I kill my fellow party man, and for what purpose? I have decided not to comment on this issue, but for the sake of the party and myself, I will go to court over this matter.”

The late Finance Minister met his untimely death last week in South Africa, when he went there for a medical review. After he was pronounced dead, some elements within the party accused Mr. Appiah-Kubi of using juju to kill him.