I adopted Mandela’s ‘style’ after my BNI ordeal - Koku Anyidoho

Chief Executive Officer of the Atta Mills Institute and former Deputy General Secretary of the largest opposition party the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Koku Anyidoho has said his detention at BNI and CID last year was his epiphany.

In a taped interview obtained by MyNewsGh.com, Mr. Anyidoho affectionately called “The Bull” said after his release from BNI, he chose South Africa’s Nelson Mandela as a mentor which is the reason why he has decided not to be bitter against the people who detained him, including President Akufo-Addo, heads of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI).

According to Koku, he will hail and praise Akufo-Addo and show him respect anywhere he meets him. “I heard he (Akufo-Addo) is coming to the Volta Region. If I get the chance and they permit me, I will go and greet and show him respect. Why? They can call me traitor or anything, I don’t care.” He said.

Koku Anyidoho also revealed that his detention period gave him the “opportunity to learn, reflect about many things” and to also “observe the CID and BNI closely at work” and the people heading there earned his respect.

“It (detention) allowed me to see the CID and the BNI working at close range … … … They want me to be insulting them after my release. Why? MANDELA was in prison for 27 years. When he came out he chose to forgive. I spent 48 hours in BNI cells and you want me to come out to be insulting the president, sorry I won’t do it!” Koku panted.

Our readers will recall that the BNI arrested the then Deputy General Secretary of the NDC as he was and charged him with treason.

Koku spent two days in detention for comments government described as “treasonable.”

Mr. Anyidoho was arrested in drama style at the International Press Centre where the party in collaboration with other individuals was planning a demonstration against the government for ratifying a controversial Ghana-US Military Cooperation agreement.

In an interview on Happy FM, Anyidoho had suggested the current president, like his father, will be overthrown in a civil revolt which will begin soon.

“On January 13, 1972, a certain Col. Ignatius Kutu Acheampong led a movement that removed the Progress Party from power. Busia was the Prime Minister and Akufo-Addo’s father was a ceremonial president. Somebody should tell Nana Akufo-Addo that history has a very interesting way of repeating itself. There’ll be a civil revolt,” Mr Anyidoho said.

His comment was condemned by political commentators.

About 20 heavily armed police personnel besieged the International Press Centre and arrested Koku Anyidoho leading to his detention, charge and later release.