‘Mugabe’ MP tag fueled by Citi Fm’s Richard Sky affected me – Former MP reveals

Broadcast journalist with Accra based Citi Fm, Richard Dela Sky has been singled out for labeling some long serving Members of Parliament (MPs) in Ghana as ‘Mugabes’ which affected some of them.

Former Member of Parliament (MP) for the Talensi constituency John Tia Kolgo disclosed this in an interview on Bolgatanga based Yem Radio monitored by MyNewsGh.com that the one-time parliamentary correspondent and host of Citi Eyewitness News is the originator of the label ‘Mugabe’, a name used to describe legislators who served for several years and were still in MP positions.

John Tia Akolgo served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for 20 years but lost in 2012 to the parliamentary candidate of the New Patriotic Party now Paramount Chief of the Tongo Traditional Area, Tongo-Rana Kubilsong Nalebegtan.

He served in various positions including Majority Leader in Parliament and subsequently as Minister in charge of Information under the Mills administration.

According to him, the Mugabe tag which connotes an overly stay in a particular position in the long run affected his fortune and that of his colleagues who had also been serving for over four terms.

“I was in touch with the people and took them along with me. I took their concerns seriously and not that I was the only capable person. I lobbied to bring development. In fact Talenteng has abundant capable people who could have also been there. They knew what I was offering and I kept my commitment to them that is why they kept me there. People started calling us Mugabes and in fact Richard Sky started it and it kind of caught fire. So myself and my colleagues like Avoka, Bagbin and others were described in that manner and that kind of created that impression,” he remarked.

In his assessment, the tag was used against them by opponents from both within their parties and opponent parties.

“Our opponents used it and you can understand when they go round and say vote against [him] because he has kept too long there”.