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21.04.2014 Feature Article

Is President Mahama Corrupt?

Is President Mahama Corrupt?
21.04.2014 LISTEN

There is a huge perception in the Ghanaian public domain that President Mahama is corrupt. A certain percentage of the Ghanaian populace accept this perception to be a true fact whilst others believe otherwise. In this submission, I will let readers make their own judgement on this question.

Before I proceed, we will look at the meaning of the word '' corrupt '' as defined by Merriam -Webster's Collegiate Dictionary in order to help us to come to a fair conclusion. Merriam-Webster sees the word ''corrupt'' as a transitive and an intransitive verb and as an adjective. As a transitive verb, Merriam- Webster defines '' corrupt'' as (a) to change from good to bad in morals, manners or actions; (b) to degrade with unsound principles or moral values. As intransitive verb, Merriam- Webster defines ''corrupt'' as

(a) To become tainted or rotten;

(b) To cause disintegration or ruin.

As an adjective, Webster defines ''corrupt'' as (a) morally degenerated and perverted;

(b) characterised by improper conduct (as bribery or the selling of favours).

Having known the real meaning of the word ''corrupt'' we will then look at litany of seemingly corrupt practices which revolved around President Mahama for readers to evaluate and draw their own conclusions.

For the benefit of readers who couldn't follow issues to be enumerated, I will quote extensively from my sources of information. The first corrupt practice we shall look at is about President Mahama's involvement in the Embraer 190 deal. The 22nd October 2012 issue of the Front Page Newspaper reported that the late President Mills wanted then vice President Mahama to be investigated over Embraer 190 deal.

Below is the full story from the Front Page Newspaper: ''A sensational matter that nearly rocked the ruling party to its foundation has been revealed by no less a person than ''Citizen Vigilante'' Mr Martin Amidu, the former attorney general under the late President Mills.

According to Mr Amidu, the late President Mills set up a committee of enquiry to investigate the acquisition of aircrafts for the armed forces negotiated by President John Mahama. President Mahama has not responded to this allegation of suspicious transactions. On 19th February, 2009, in his state of the nation address to parliament, then President Mills told parliament that his government was reviewing the decision to purchase two executive Presidential jets. ''Ghana simply cannot afford the expenditure at this time and we certainly do not need two presidential jets'', late President Mills told the whole world. Unknown to many Ghanaians, then chairman of the Armed Forces Council, then Vice President John Mahama was frantically receiving delegations from Brazil and negotiating the acquisition of five jets, including the most expensive hangar for this poor nation, when his President appeared not to be aware of the transaction. The late President Mills apparently shocked and suspicious of then Vice President Mahama's negotiations, set up a committee, comprising Hon William Aboah, Mr George Amoah and Brig. Gen. Allotey (Rtd) to investigate the Processes of the Acquisition of Five Aircraft, including Embraer 190 aircraft and hangar to the Ghana Army.

The Committee to investigate whether the John Mahama led team was diligent, truthful, incorrupt, patriotic, prudent and authorised to acquire five jets for Ghana never commenced.

According to Martin Amidu, ''pressure groups never allowed the committee to take off. But the very fact that the late President Mills contemplated this Committee meant that he was uncomfortable with and suspicious of the alleged prices of the aircraft.'' (Courtesy: Ghanaweb General News of Monday 22nd October 2012)

The second corrupt practice is about the donation of 12 Land Cruisers by President Mahama to chiefs to win their votes. To attract the votes of the National House of Chiefs and their respective subjects, during the 2012 Presidential elections, radioxyzonline.com on the 13th November 2012 reported that President Mahama donated 12 Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles to the august house whiles most Ghanaians couldn't afford a day's meal.

The third issue that smells corruption is about a contract for the distribution of laptops to schools. The contract for the distribution of laptops to schools and colleges by President Mahama NDC government was given to the RLG Communications owned by Roland Agambile, President Mahama's closest friend.

President Mahama also presided over the rot at SADA and GYEEDA where monies were siphoned for his presidential ambitions and the bogus STX Korea housing deal that never saw the light.

The next issue is about President Mahama's tribal inclination. Ministerial, Board and Public Institutions appointments by President Mahama are always made on tribal lines. A critical look at all the Chief Executive Officers in Public Institutions and Board Chairmen in the country shall reveal to you President Mahama's position on ethnicity. The last issue to look at is President Mahama's integrity.

President Mahama has hijacked the free SHS educational policy from Nana Akuffo, the policy the President strongly objected to during the 2012 electioneering campaign with the excuse that it could only be possible in Ghana after 20 years' time.

I wish to quote from Ghanaweb General News of Thursday, 29 November 2012 to buttress this point. ''President John Mahama says Ghana's education system could risk near-collapse if the free Senior High School policy being trumpeted by the NPP is implemented now.

According to him, other African countries such as Kenya and Botswana have reintroduced fee paying in their secondary schools after a free education policy nearly collapsed their secondary education system. President Mahama who addressed students of the Cape Coast University as he begins a three day campaign in the Central Region was reacting to Nana Akufo Addo's persistence with his free SHS promise on the campaign trail.''

In another news report, in 2012 President John Mahama wrote on his Facebook page: ''Free SHS is a misplaced priority if primary school pupils still pay fees. Let's make primary free first''. My concern here is why a sharp U-turn and saying that free secondary education was feasible now.

Has President Mahama finished full implementation of free basic education for every child as the constitution stipulates? Does President Mahama think Ghanaians have short memories as he has been trumpeting?

Fellow Ghanaians, as I finish my submission, I want to take readers back to the definition of corruption (noun) which according to Merriam –Webster's Collegiate Dictionary is impairment of integrity, virtue or moral principle. Vocabulary.com also describes corruption (noun) as dishonest actions that destroy people's trust in a person or a group.

If we are to go by this definition, then having looked at some of the known deeds of President Mahama, I can confidently and strongly submit that President Mahama is corrupt and needs to be replaced in 2016. What about you?

See you later.

K Agyenco (Tottenham, UK) (A Concerned Ghanaian Citizen)
Email: [email protected]

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