At the mention of either of these two familiar names— Donald Trump and Kennedy Agyapong— one thing comes to mind immediately. Controversy.
There are a number of things America’s free-spoken Trump and Ghana’s hot-headed Agyapong share in common, even though they live many miles apart— and look different physically, too.
The two men are so closely related in traits— and even in career— that their names are close to being used interchangeably as synonyms in politics. Just let’s take a look.
1. Same Birth Month
Trump was born on June 14, 1946. Agyapong was born on June 16, 1960.
2. Media Ownership
Trump owns a media house called Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG). Agyapong owns Kencity Multimedia, which consists of NET 2 TV and Oman FM among other subsidiaries.
3. Lawsuits against Journalists
In January, 2023, Trump sued a Washington Post reporter, Bob Woodward, for publishing without his permission an audio recording of an interview he had with the reporter. Has Agyapong ever sued a journalist? Yes. In 2021, Agyapong filed a defamation suit against America-based Ghanaian journalist and Chief Executive Officer of Loud Silence Media, Kelvin Ekow Taylor.
4. Same Party, Same Identity
Trump belongs to America’s Republican Party, one of America’s two major political parties, rivalling the Democratic Party.
Agyapong is a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), one of Ghana’s two main political parties, competing with the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Trump’s Republican and Agyapong’s NPP espouse the same ideology of conservatism— a view that favours private ownership, free enterprise and socially traditional ideas. And both parties use elephants as their symbols.
Besides, the mottoes of the two parties lay emphasis on freedom. The Republican’s motto is: “Free soil, free speech, free labour, free men”. The NPP’s motto is: “Development in Freedom”.
5. Free-range Outbursts
Trump is not known for employing diplomacy even when members of his own party cross him. He invariably resolves it with a rapid war of words.
He did it as recently as a few days ago when eight Republican presidential candidates said their party should dump Trump in 2024.
In response, Trump described them as “nasty” and “pretenders to the throne”.
On August 26, 2023, Agyapong proved to be Trump’s clone, or carbon copy, once more while an NPP’s internal presidential race, in which Agyapong was involved as an aspirant, was underway.
During the election, he publicly threatened to give Ghana’s President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and Vice-President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia (one of the aspirants), a “showdown”. His outburst followed reports that some of his agents had been attacked at some polling centres and driven away from the voting venues.
6. Rich Real Estate Tycoons
Trump is a real estate tycoon and he is counted among America’s richest people. Aygapong is a real estate businessman and he has his name on Ghana’s rich list, too.
7. Violence and Arrests
Kennedy Agyapong was arrested in 2012 for reportedly inciting his followers to violence. Donald Trump was arrested in 2023 for allegedly inciting his followers to violence in January, 2021, as he sought to “stop the peaceful transfer of presidential power”.
Conclusion
The similarities seen so far between the two politicians suggest they have the same destinies.
When Trump launched his campaign for president in 2000, it was difficult for many to imagine that a man of his extremely controversial make-up would be in charge of the White House one day.
In the long run, he reached the Oval Office. But his contentious nature never changed. The White House did not change Trump’s view about the world. Trump changed the world’s view about the White House.
When Agyapong launched his presidential ambition in 2022, it started like a prank. But he was frank.
The unimaginable might take Ghanaians by surprise one cold dawn, and they would have to live with it— just as Trump happened in America in 2016, and America had to come to terms with the unexpected.
Agyapong beating Alan Kyerematen, a former heir apparent to the presidency, at the last Saturday’s Super Delegates Conference, finishing only behind the government-backed Vice President, may be a foretaste of a future feat.
And if Agyapong ever occupies the Jubilee House, he may as well end up like Trump, who attacks journalists in the same style Agyapong naturally does and is regarded by historians as one of the worst presidents in the history of the United States.
Another Trump can happen in Ghana. And Ghanaians would have to live with that raw shock. Yes, a raw brand of shock.
Agyapong, probably, is the next Trump! The cap will not fit him, as it did not fit Trump, but he may legitimately grab it— and wear it. Be aware and beware.
Source: Edward Adeti/Media Without Borders/mwbonline.org
