Kwame Pianim: I don't know any 'John the first or John the second'

Mr. Kwame Pianim

Listen to Kwame Pianim speaking on Asempa FM about his comments that have drawn huge controversies© Copyright myjoyonline

Veteran politician and renowned economist, Mr. Kwame Pianim almost lost his cool on Tuesday, distraught at the barrage of questions, criticisms and innuendoes directed at him following his endorsement of President John Evans Atta Mills as above board when it comes to bribery and corruption.

Unwilling to sustain what he thought was a needless banter on Asempa FM's programme Ekosii Sεn Pianim eased himself off the telephone over which he was put under incessant questioning by Nana Kwabena Bobie Ansah, host of the programme, leaving the latter with a couple of unanswered hellos.

Mr. Pianim on Monday gave President Mills a massive endorsement when he responded to a questioner's demand for explanation why Ghana was not making much headway in her fight against corruption, saying corrupt nations have been known to have corrupt leaders, expressing joy that Ghana is fortunate to have a president in Prof. J.E.A. Mills who will himself not steal from the people.

The occasion was the first of a newly instituted annual consensus building forum, Joy FM Debate, organized in association with the Coconut Grove Regency Hotels in Accra.

Mr. Pianim said while he could vouch for the president as a no-thief to steal from Ghanaians because he had seen him on at least two occasions return 'brown envelopes', he did not see such a situation during the reign of 'John the first or John the second', references traceable, without effort, to the regimes headed by Jerry John Rawlings and John Agyekum Kufuor respectively. For him, the question really was how President Mills would ensure that those under him also lived like him – not steal from the state.

The comments have since drawn Mr. Pianim up against members of his own New Patriotic Party, some of who now associate him more with the ruling NDC. Meanwhile, spokesperson for President Mills, Koku Anyidoho, has raised doubts about what period of President Mills' life Mr. Pianim claims to have seen the president return bribes, saying it cannot be during his presidency because no one has dared to make the attempt.

On Tuesday and under incessant questioning by Nana Kwabena Bobie Ansah, on Ekosii sεn, a harangued Pianim retorted that he does not know any 'John the first or John the second', wondering why nobody questioned him when in the run-up to the 2008 general elections, he went to the defence of the NPP's presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, proclaiming him as not corrupt.

Me pawo kyεw mennim!, Mr. Pianim snapped in Twi when pressed to identify which two Johns he referred to. He also challenged claims that he was praising President Mills because he had problems with former presidents Kufuor and Rawlings, explaining that what he did was to testify of something he knew and invited anyone who intends to testify of good deeds of the former presidents to go ahead and do so because his endorsement of President Mills does not stop any such person or action.

The NPP has expressed dismay at Mr. Pianim's comments, but also want President Mills to expose for arrest, those involved in the attempted bribery.

Story by Isaac Yeboah?Myjoyonline.com/Ghana
See below a statement signed by Kwaku Kwarteng, NPP's Communications Director.


STATEMENT

PRESIDENT MILLS, DON'T SHIELD THESE BRIBE GIVERS.

The New Patriotic Party has been dismayed by the revelation yesterday that President John Evans Atta-Mills, the highest public servant, is refusing to expose criminals who have attempted to offer him bribe. This development is an unfortunate setback to the nation's fight against corruption.

If people have become so emboldened that they are able to walk up to the highest office of the land and seek to offer bride to the President of the Republic, then we are losing the fight against corruption. Such people should be exposed immediately.

It is questionable that the President failed to cause the arrest of such criminals when the incident happened. It would appear that President Mills and the NDC government
he presides over have an unhealthy interest in protecting such criminals. It is to diffuse such an impression that the President needs to stop shielding them and offer them to
the law without further delay.

More importantly, the President's shielding of the wrongdoers betrays government's lack of commitment to fight corruption. Coming at a time of ongoing investigations into
the Mabey & Johnson corruption scandal, the revelation of President's protection for the criminals is embarrassing to the Presidency, the NDC government, as well as the nation.
And the President must expose them now!

Kwaku Kwarteng
Communications Director