DOES THE NDC AND BNI HAVE AN AGENDA?

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is extremely secretive when it comes to their policies and way of governing people but enjoys taking away the privacy of their political opponents. Why is it one rule for them and another for their opponents? If you had told me in 2001 that the then main opposition party NDC would become one of the most secretive governments in recent times, you would have been laughed at., because they convinced the ordinary man that they have learnt their lessons very well from the past regime (AFRC, PNDC, and NDC).

After all, the New Patriotic Party then record from 2001-2008 was appalling, and Professor Atta Mills promised a Freedom of Information Act, which he then duly delivered in his first 100 days. Journalists and citizen activists have made good use of that Act and it is to be commended. Unfortunately, it has been the exception. NDC pre-08 promises to create more openness and accountability in the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) ran into trouble almost immediately. Within 100 days there has been car snatching by operatives of BNI and harassments of former governments' officials.

The questions many Ghanaians are asking, is if the former governments officials are guilty of any corrupt practices, the BNI do not need to harass them, they should simply process them for prosecution, for the officials to answer to the judiciary. But the governments should use "open and fair" method in prosecuting the former government. Example if “Mpianim” is guilty of corruption regarding the Ghana @ 50 celebrations, the BNI should not harass him, but should simply advice the state Attorney to process charges against the former chief of staff.

But another point we need to observe is the fact that the NDC should not create the BNI as Pro-government machinery, but an investigation body authorised to investigate anybody irrespective of your political affiliate. So I expect the President to ask the Foreign Minister to also proceed on leave, just us the Sports Minister obliged to proceed on leave, so that effective investigation can be done regarding the corruption levelled against Hon Mumuni, the Minister of Foreign Affairs. This would prove the sincerity of the Atta Mills government in solving corruption in Ghana.

Finally whatever the agenda of the government and the BNI, it is the prayer of the ordinary man on the street that the government and the BNI would make sure that their taxes would be effectively used to avoid corruption from public and political officials who only think of their family members and themselves.

Author: Paul Rex Danquah
East London