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01.05.2014 Feature Article

An Open Letter To The President: Musing Of An Ordinary Ghanaian Youth

An Open Letter To The President: Musing Of An Ordinary Ghanaian Youth
01.05.2014 LISTEN

(As I was going through my archives, I saw this piece I wrote about a year ago and never published it. The questions I raised are still relevant today because little has been done after the stunning revelations on SADA and GYEEDA by Manasseh Azure Awuni and so I decided to publish it).

Corruption is a broad term covering a wide range of misuse of entrusted funds and power for private gains (Theft, Fraud, nepotism, Cronyism etc.). Corruption in Ghana has been common since independence.

In 2006, Ghana's score and ranking on the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index has improved slightly. However, there is a growing perception in Ghana that government-related corruption is on the rise.

In the run-up to the 2008 polls, H.E J.E.A. Mills (whom you were running mate to) picked and dwell on corruption just because it was a big campaign issue. On almost all campaign platforms, he (you) was heard loud and clear promising the electorates “The NPP government has failed to tackle the issue of corruption as they promised to do. When I become president, I will not cut it since it will resurface but I will rather uproot it totally from the system” then he (you) receive cheers from the electorates at campaign grounds.

Mr. President, in a recent expose, Joy fm's Manasseh Azure Awuni made stunning revelations on how your good friend Roland Agambire (CEO of AGAMS group of companies) and Mr. Joseph Agyapong Siaw (CEO of JOSPON group of companies) are cunningly milking the state coffers under your watch and under the pretext of public private partnership (PPP).

Mr. President, one of the deals which stunned me most is the deal between GYEEDA and Better Ghana management ltd and Zoom Lion Ghana ltd where funds meant to pay employees of Zoom lion is cunningly embezzled by your good friend Roland Agambire together with his cohorts. Poor women, widows unemployed youths and the vulnerable work tirelessly and are allocated GHc 500 every month by GYEEDA. Better Ghana Management ltd takes away GHc 400 as management fees and pays the employees GHc 100. This is inhuman. This is bad. It is unacceptable. Question is: Who signed this deal? Is he/she Ghanaian and do you Mr. President know about the signing of this deal and you allowed it?

Corruption is everywhere in the world and daily life is riddled with situations in the gray zone between legal and illegal. Many people accept petty corruption as a fact of life. What do you accept in your own country (particularly when you're the head of government)? Where do you draw the lines between acceptable and unacceptable behavior in this (your) country.

I sometimes lose confidence in the prospects of my beloved country Ghana because of terrible leadership.

I have always said and I maintain that stands that 56yrs of our independence has yielded no commensurate dividend to this country but the last 5years of the 56yrs that began following the issues on the political front to me happens to be the worst of it all. Sadly Mr. President, the last five years have been under your watch. The seat of government under your watch has become a haven of corruption and cronyism under your watch.

Mr. President, I am not a puppet of any political party and so don't you even think that I am writing this because I am on the payroll of any political party. I am just an ordinary young Ghanaian (21yrs of age) who is simply overwhelmed with the problems and challenges life poses to him as a result of the terrible leadership being offered by leaders of this country. Is it because of the liberty we enjoy?

The seventh president of America said “I weep for the liberty of my country when I see at this early day of its successful experiment, that corruption has been ascribed to many public officials and the rights of the people have been battered for promises of office”.

Mr. President, for that poor widow in Akuse and elsewhere who wakes up at 4am every morning to sweep the markets in other to make ends meet, that young man and woman who has to distil choked gutters everyday in other to survive, that kid whose dream to become an engineer in future is in the balance because his parents are paid GHc 100 and that is woefully inadequate to finance his dream, my humble appeal to you is simple. Intensify your fight against corruption like you promised us during the IEA presidential debate and on other platforms in the run-up to the 2012 polls. As for that deal between GYEEDA and Better Ghana Mgt LTD, it's inhuman and must be terminated with immediate effect

As for that man, (Owusu Bempah's) prophesy, don't worry yourself too much over that because our God reveals to redeem. Just hold fast to your confidence without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. Heb 10:35.

Thank you!

By: Siegfried E Sorkpor

Member: Well-Meaning-Ghanaian and an aspiring future leader

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