“Give us some credit for being intelligent!” – That’s the bold challenge lawyer Martin Kpebu threw at the Minority group during a recent TV appearance, sparking a heated debate over Ghana’s cocoa sector crisis. But here’s where it gets controversial: Kpebu didn’t hold back, accusing the opposition of playing a blame game while conveniently ignoring their own role in the mess. His sharp critique came in response to the Minority’s press conference, where they urged the current government to seek IMF assistance—a move Kpebu sees as a thinly veiled attempt to shift responsibility.
On TV3’s Key Points program, Kpebu dissected the issue, pointing out that the previous administration, led by the New Patriotic Party (NPP), had locked in cocoa prices at a staggering $2,600 per metric ton. And this is the part most people miss: Such decisions, he argued, created a massive financial burden that the current government inherited. Instead of owning up to these mistakes, the Minority is now pushing for loans, a tactic Kpebu likened to their previous ‘shameful’ return to the IMF.
Kpebu didn’t stop there. He highlighted what he called gross mismanagement during the NPP’s tenure, including purchasing cocoa at inflated prices and awarding contracts for cocoa roads that far exceeded budgets. “Who in their right mind does that?” he questioned, using a vivid analogy: “It’s like trying to wash your face starting from the bottom—it just doesn’t make sense.” Accountability, he stressed, is long overdue.
The lawyer also brought up the infamous $48 million LC scandal, wondering why investigations hadn’t started sooner. “We’re upset, but nothing happened,” he noted, suggesting that the backlog of cases might be to blame. His solution? More investigators and prosecutors to ramp up anti-corruption efforts.
What’s truly striking is Kpebu’s take on the Minority’s approach. He labeled their press conference as nothing more than grandstanding, a performative act rather than a genuine effort to find solutions. “You create a problem and then act like you’re saving the day,” he said. “Admit your mistakes first, then we’ll talk.”
Here’s the kicker: Kpebu believes that while governance is a continuum, those seeking dialogue must first acknowledge past errors before offering advice or making demands. It’s a call for honesty and accountability—something he argues the Minority has yet to embrace.
So, what do you think? Is Kpebu’s critique fair, or is he missing the bigger picture? Let’s spark a conversation—drop your thoughts in the comments below!
