Communications and Governance Consultant, Kathleen Addy says the people of Nkoranza North regard Eric Amoateng highly because he satisfied their needs in ways governments over the years have failed to fulfil.
According to her, they would not have hailed their ex-Member of Parliament (MP) if systems worked efficiently in Ghana.
“There is an element of state failure in all of this. Why do the people of Nkoranza love this gentleman so much? Why do they hail him, why do they support him? Because he has apparently used his wealth to benefit all of them,” she said.
Mr. Amoateng was arrested and jailed for trafficking narcotics to the United States of America (USA).
After serving his 10-year jail term, he returned to Ghana on Thursday in the company of two officers from the US State Department.
Residents of Nkoranza, sympathizers, and his family members thronged the airport in their numbers to welcome him back to Ghana.
This development was largely frowned upon by sections of the general public who thought their presence at the airport meant an endorsement of the crime he committed.
Mr. Amoateng before his imprisonment was hailed by his constituents for his philanthropic activities towards them and despite his incarceration for dealing in narcotics, beneficiaries of his goodwill still hold him in high regard.
Speaking on Citi FM’s the Big Issue; Ms Addy said the ex-MP provided varied kinds of social interventions “all from his pocket but if government was efficient, and scholarships were running as they should, people will be less thrilled with these kinds of interventions from an individual.”
According to her, the residents feel indebted to him since “he played such a big role in the financial matters of almost every family in that constituency.”
Ms Addy insisted that if institutions were effectively managed in Ghana, people will not condone social vices because it benefits them.
The Editor of The Business Finder, Toma Imirhe on his part said he is disappointed Eric Amoateng is being hailed as a hero despite his drug dealings.
“It is a bad example that a drug dealer can be regarded as a hero outside his immediate family. I am hugely disappointed.”
He recommended that Ghanaians who are excited at the return of the Amoateng should be given a tour around “the ghettos of Accra and see what drugs this man was dealing in has done to his fellow human beings.”
By: Efua Idan Osam/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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