Disrespectful Appointees: The Woes Of President Mahama

After taking a read through excerpts of president Mahama’s speech on corruption in Accra last Wednesday, I am tempted to believe that my president is only surrounded by nothing but disobedient appointees who have no fear for the venoms of the President; After all, he can’t sack them.

I also came to believe that, President Mahama have no or little control over his on appointees and cabinet. Why do I say these, I believe is the first question on your mind as you read this piece? .....my reasons are simple and you will understand when my writing is getting old to its end times.

Honestly, you can side with me or not, but the obvious truth is that Mr. John Dramani Mahama is just ignorant of what the level of corruption in his own government is. In a piece I wrote earlier, I sought to let the president and Ghanaians at large know why the John Mahama led NDC is not capable of fighting corruption in Ghana which has gained international attentions.

Recently, report on corruption from the CORRUPTION REALITY INDEX, which puts Ghana as the 2nd most corrupt country in Africa just a tip of the iceberg. To me, we are on top…the researchers sought to have some level of mercy for us because of the respect our country has in the continent and globe.

In a last piece I wrote, I sought to let my president and the citizenry some advice which could help him fight corruption in his government. The first step I advised my president on; is to accept that his government has taken keen interest in perpetuating corruption.

He may not be directly involved but as the leader and appointer of all his appointees, if anything goes wrong, he takes the blame. Like the saying goes, “an elder who sits aloof for children to perpetuate evil is himself an evil man”. Always we have heard president Mahama debunking claims that, serious corruption has gained roots in his government.

On the other hands, like he said last Wednesday in his statement, he’s always pledging his commitment to fighting corruption in Ghana. So I have always asked; which kind of corruption is Mr. Mahama always pledging his commitment to fighting it and in who’s government too since he is not accepting the obvious fact that his government is corrupt?

Secondly, my president must see the numerous critics of his government as friends and not foes. This will afford him the benefit of understanding why he has become the most criticized government in Ghana even in his first term of office. The president must take the blame of corruption cases; act as someone who wants to clear his name from all the black inks.

Desperation to look good whiles you are not won’t afford any good image for you and the country, Mr. President. Sometimes I come to conclude that, your own appointees are doing more harm to you than good. To be a successful leader, you must have a big stomach for nonsense….if not, you will always make needless statements. The infamous “incompetence” statement is one of such needless statements a president can ever make.

It marvels me that, Mr. John Mahama seems to have forgotten that the management of Ghana isn’t his sole responsibility as president, but it takes collective efforts of all. Telling Dr Bawumia to stop calling your government as “incompetent” because he has never been a president before was funny. I want to believe that the president just didn’t mean it when he said. At times, pressure can force the cat to chew soap!

Lastly, I sought to advise my president to think of legacies and forget about next elections. It doesn’t take many years to make a legacy. It is better leaving a good name as president for one week than leaving a bad name as president for 100 years.

To me all is not lost for Ghana yet, all is left is for my president to act swiftly and boldly.

Back to my main agenda for the day, it is unfortunate Mr. John Mahama has turn from a president to a promisident. Yes, he’s always promising and directing. On 15th November, 2013, Mr. Mahama told the whole world that, and for the sake of time I am interested is section ‘a’ of his insructions; "I have instructed the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General, EOCO and the Minister of Finance to work with the Minister for Youth and Sports to achieve the following by 31st December 2013:

a. Secure refunds of monies wrongfully paid to or misappropriated by any individuals or companies from contracts with SADA, GYEEDA, and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and to retrieve monies wrongfully paid to Waterville and Isofoton". So I was shocked when president Mahama issued same instructions last Wednesday when he was speaking at the second high level conference on the national anti-corruption action plan in Accra. It is 2 years down the line, and the president is still instructing the retrieval of same wrongfully paid monies to certain individual and companies. Does Mr. Mahama seem to be very serious in his quest to fight corruption? No!

Fellow countrymen and women, I doubt the ability of Mr. Mahama to fight corruption because, the same companies and individuals indicted in the Manasseh Azure’s revelations of corruption in the GYEEDA, SADA and SUBA scandals are still winning government contracts in this country. The Waterville and Isofoton monies are still in debts even when the Supreme Court ruled that, the monies must be refunded to the state. He cannot collect them because his lead counsel in the 2012 election petition has his name in it. Until, we have a change of government; I can confidently say every Ghanaian must forget the Waterville, Isofoton, Woyome, GYEEDA, RLG, SADA and NSS monies.

In his speech last Wednesday, the president said about GHS.20million has been retrieved and the remaining GHS.40million should be retrieved by end of December, 2015. But the truth is that, the monies retrieved are those ones lend to some persons as interest-free loans from AGAMS GROUP. According to Mr. Manasseh Azure, the investigative journalist whose diligent professionalism and nationalism led to the uncover of the GYEEDA and SADA rots, ZOOMLION and BETTER GHANA MANAGEMENT SERVICES alone is suppose to refund over GHS.140million with GYEEDA and SADA also supposed to give back to the state over GHS.100million. With this alone, retrieving some GHS.20million is only a peanut of the total monies involved in these scandals. We ought to be serious as a people and country.

It saddens me when politicians become mediocres. Ideally, politica isn't a profession for such people as we see in Ghana. How on earth must a president make merry of retrieving a chicken shit of monies people stole from national coffers?

On this issue I am of the conviction that, president Mahama’s own appointees doesn’t obey his instructions. They don't respect himas the president.

They have no fear for his venoms if he was a cobra. It is high time he acted as a president and regain the dignity of his.

The presidency is not suppose to be weak as we see in Mr Mahama's time. Direct, act and punish accordingly if those watching over your back are not doing as expected, Mr. President.

I agree with the fact that, the failing presidency and leadership of my president is due to massive rots he is harboring. Ghana has gone back to the 19th centuries. Poverty, economic hardships and crime are everywhere.

The unfortunate thing is that, it is the ordinary citizen like you and I, who faces the greatest impact of the failing economy. If president Mahama has good advisers, the recent increment in utility prices wouldn’t be seen. No good willing leadership will impose such hardships on its peoples when it is obvious the average Ghanaian now is poor. The Ghana we know in 10 years ago is no more.

I remember in 2005/2006 seasons when financial institutions were chasing individuals to come for loans even at a lower interest rate. The last time my sister subscribed for a loan from her bank, she had to pay an interest of 33% and even with that, it took not less than 2 months before the necessary documentations were made. Where is the country going? Some of us are not afraid to criticize the president on doing the right thing.

At time when I write about corruptions in this government, my email address gets flooded with insults and sometime death threats but call them as hollow. If I have to be insulted and vilified for exercising my constitutional privileges and rights as a Ghanaian, let it be so. At least, I keep on writing because I have the feeling that those people vilifying me will one day see the light and will come to understand me.

Ghana under president Mahama is with no doubt retrogressing instead of the opposite. Except, the academic dishonest in our societies and those with political spectacles, a well meaning Ghanaian knows I saying nothing but the truth…we can choose to be the healthier nation we deserve or remain in this mess as a country. I have made a great promise to myself, that, if I may die today, my immediate society must one day feel the difference between my presence and absence.

Thank God He is always guiding and directing me towards my promise. You and I will die one day but the truth shall always live, a reason why I have always upheld the truth. Not to say I am perfect, I am always guided by a biblical truth which says “ye shall say the truth and the truth shall set ye free”.

I end by quoting a whatsApp status of my colleague, Mr. Abass Yusif. He writes “corruption kills the brain. It affects one’s sense of reasoning. Corrupted mind is a divided mind. Difficult to make sound and logic decisions with it. Check yourself”. You and I have to reflect on this and I believe one day, we will understand what corruption is and fight it with all our strength.

GOD BLESS OUR HOMELAND GHANA!
The writer:
Richard Sarpong
(Agriculturalist and enterprenuer)
Email: [email protected].