The fight against corruption remains the most difficult but most important element in our effort to achieve a prosperous and sustainable Ghana. What makes this fight a more daunting task is nepotism and cronyism. When Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was sworn in as the president of this dear country, the goodwill and confidence reposed in him by Ghanaians were unprecedented. This is because he promised to change the political dimension of this country and fight corruption with an unorthodox approach, “The Anas’ principle”. He promised to make corruption unattractive. But in the end, it turned out to be a mere rhetoric as corruption became the easy route to success under the outgoing regime.
In the past 8 years, Ghanaians have experienced the worst form of leadership under the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration. This administration has normalised corruption, nepotism, cronyism and irresponsibility. The president failed to take responsibility, neither did he stamp his authority in taking his followers towards a certain direction for purposes of development and growth.
Not only did he supervise over series of corrupt activities, he has gone a step further to provide those engaged in corruption a sanctuary after clearing them of any crime even before any verdict from the relevant institutions.
The shocking impunity under President Akufo-Addo
President Akufo-Addo has shielded and cleared those engaged in the Cash for seat scandal, PDS scandal, Australia Visa scandal, BOST contaminated oil scandal, the missing excavators, the perpetrators of the Ayawaso by election violence, the killers of 8 innocent citizens during the 2020 general elections and the SPUTNIK V vaccine scandal among others. He also cleared AKonta Mining Company Limited of any wrong doings in their illegal mining case that was before the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ). The company is owned by the Ashanti regional chairman of the president’s party the NPP, Mr. Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Wontumi). All these have been cleared by president Akufo-Addo. This is a perfect description of a clearing agent. President Akufo-Addo is too loyal, but his loyalty is towards his appointees and cronies, such that, he fights to protect them at the expense of the country. He is the perfect description of a clearing agent.
It is therefore refreshing and reassuring when H.E. John Dramani Mahama recently boldly declared his stance against corruption, affirming that he will not shield appointees involved in corrupt activities in the next NDC government.
H.E. John Mahama’s vision to establish an independent valuation office to ensure Ghana gets value for money when it comes to procurement is a welcoming and very essential in our effort to fight corruption. The president elect has warned that, any of his appointees found guilty or suspected of engaging in corruption will face legal consequences, asserting his commitment to the national interest over personal allegiances.
How Mahama prosecuted his own appointees
H.E. John Mahama has a track record of prosecuting his own appointees which is rare in Ghanaian politics in particular and African politics in general. He is on record to have prosecuted his appointee, the former Executive Director of the National Service Alhaji Alhassan Imoro in 2015 for allegedly stealing GHC100 million.
The former president also boldly and courageously prosecuted his own party member and appointee Mr. Abuga Pele for corruption and was jailed for 6 years. Mr. Abuga Pele is the former NDC Member of Parliament for Chiana-Paga constituency, and the head of the Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Agency (GYEEDA) and was appointed by H.E. John Mahama. Therefore if he promises not to be a clearing agent, it is believable, doable and acceptable. These are facts, facts are sacred and immutable.
This kind of boldness and zeal in fighting corruption from your own inner circle is rare and recommendable and I believe it will happen again under the incoming NDC government. He will make corruption unattractive and less appealing.
The President-elect has emphasised his determination to ensure accountability, stating his refusal to protect individuals from facing consequences for their criminal actions. I believe he will investigate and prosecute all the scandals under the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia-led administration and also prosecute his own appointees if they engage in any corrupt practices.
“If people have taken advantage of the country, they must be dealt with, and that is why I said when I come into the office and I am swearing in the ministers, I will caution them, and if they don’t listen and do not do their work well and EOCO or OSP come after you, I am not a clearing agent and I won’t interfere and I will let them do their work,” H.E. Mahama said in the lead up to the just ended elections.
Ghanaians can be assured of getting accountability and justice for the unprecedented levels of corruption witnessed under this outgoing Akufo-Addo-Bawumia-led administration because H.E. John Dramani Mahama will investigate and prosecute the appointees of this government. A vote for the NPP and Dr. Bawumia would have been a vote to deny us justice and shield corrupt officials of this outgoing government. Good riddance, we must never face what we faced under Akufo-Addo and Bawumia.
Comments
JM him self is corrupt so how can hé figth corruption?Ghanaians are féd up with his liés nd propaganda.