Prez Mills is incorruptible– Kwame Pianim

A VETERAN politician, economist, and a leading member of the main opposition party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Kwame Pianim, has described President John Evans Atta Mills as a man of honesty and integrity, and ready to combat corruption.

According to him, some actions of President Mills, since his assumption of office, have made him (Pianim) believe that the President cannot be corrupted. The NPP leading member further noted that President Mills had rejected two envelopes which reportedly contained monies, which to him, was a clear indication that he was ready to fight corruption.

Addressing a forum on 'Building a consensus for the National Development Agenda,” in Accra yesterday, Kwame Pianim said, “I can vouch for him, because he has shown that he would not be corrupted. In fact, he has rejected two envelopes which contained money. It clearly shows that he is not a man who would steal the people's money.”

Mr. Pianim, who repeated his comment in a later interview he granted Citi FM, noted that during the regime of both ex-presidents, Jerry John Rawlings and Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor, none of them demonstrated what President Mills had shown, adding that for the presidency to fight corruption, his appointees should learn from him.

To him, since corruption should be fought from the top, the actions of President Mills, should serve as a panacea for others to follow. Mr. Pianim was however not prepared to go further to analyze the regimes of Mr. Kufuor and Mr. Rawlings, except to say that the country was growing, and there was the need to curb corruption.

The NPP firebrand, who is noted for speaking his mind on issues, especially corruption and economics, revealed that it would be improper to be talking about erstwhile administrations, instead of focusing on the way forward.

According to him, all signs of the President, coupled with his rejection of 'bribes,' should tell all the citizens to join hands with him to fight corruption. Earlier on the programme, Mr. Kwame Pianim also hinted on developing the educational system in the country, which he said, was perhaps the most important rudiment to achieving the sought fortunes of the country.

“We need to have a focus on education… it liberates the people intellectually; it liberates their God-given talents to be able to produce, to participate in the national economy.”

One of the key speakers on the prgogramme was the 2008 presidential candidate of the Convention Peoples' Party (CPP), Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom.

In his assertion, he noted with concern, politicians quest to colour the national agenda with a partisan ideology, which has over the years made all the collective efforts ineffective, when it comes to implementation. He said many politicians had been concerned with how the national development plan promotes the implementation of the political ideology of the parties, and the promises contained in their campaign manifestos.

“We must first educate each other on the need to seek grounding from the constitution of the Republic,” he emphasised.

Chapter six of the 1992 Constitution - The Directive Principle of State Policy - he said represents the country's broad national agenda. “I am convinced that if we were to live by these broad principles and the constitution's requirement for monitoring and evaluation, our nation would see significant growth and development.”