The Evacuation Conundrum

Time was it when during his return to Ghana from a foreign trip as Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa was greeted by a civilian version of a guard of honour by some staff of his department.

Those were in the initial days of his stewardship.

The show of courtesy, whether it was arranged or not, generated a controversy because of its novelty, but time has thrown up many things since then. These contents from the bosom of time are bordered on unpalatable governance missteps.

The Foreign Affairs Minister returned to Ghana a few days ago, but this time he was met not by a guard of honour formed up by his loyal staff but angry Ghanaians who are demanding what in their opinion are misapplied monies drawn from the public kitty for an evacuation exercise.

'The chobo demo' as the protest march was labelled rocked Accra yesterday. It was informed by the alleged recent financial malfeasances originating from the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa.

The subject has continued to generate dust on the public space because there is no appetite on the part of officialdom to delve into it.

One of the items on the menu of Parliament as the august House sits to deliberate upon serious issues of state will be the one put forth by the Minority; the alleged misappropriated evacuation monies.

Although there are other matters of equal importance, this one is special because it tests our resolve as a people to deal head-on with the financial malfeasances which have bedeviled the country over the years.

Instructively, the man who championed the cause of probity and accountability when he was in the opposition trenches is the one upon who the searchlight has zeroed on.

Parliament has a rare opportunity, if the Speaker so agrees, to cause an independent enquiry into the subject so that a closure can be reached.

It is in the interest of Ablakwa to open himself up for a no-holds-barred enquiry into the matter on the table.

Parliament, when it uses the numbers on the side of the Majority to push the subject under the carpet, will not be serving the cause of justice.

In the coming days, we shall have opportunity to write a testimonial for the people we elected to serve as our deputies in the august House of Parliament.

The people's testimonial, which might not be in writing, would be contained in the impressions they would have about the House. The adjective 'august' will be applicable when the House lives up to expectation.

Only such a route would put to rest this fractious subject.