Silence Not An Option

The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) was put on the spot recently following allegations of inappropriate financial conduct leveled against the Chief Executive Officer (CEA) and one of her deputies.

The GEPA is so critical to improving our export earnings outside the traditional exports that such threats to its integrity should be addressed with as little delay as possible lest kill-joys have a field day hopping from one radio station to another with venom.

In the competitive international market, integrity counts a lot and defines our success or otherwise in our bid to enhance the country's fiscal state.

In polarized societies such as ours, the activities of public officers are under constant scrutiny and it behooves such personalities to be mindful of their dealings so they do not attract bad press for themselves and the government of which they are a part. That is not to be supportive of the allegations but just being plain objective so the government would derive the desired dividends.

President Akufo-Addo has done so much and continues to do so in his efforts to revamp the economy, and as noted earlier, our non-traditional export sector is key in the realization of this objective hence the need not to allow any blemish to stand in the way of the advancement we so much cherish.

The flagship projects of the President are mainly agriculture based and by and large, intended for the export market in the long run. Need we therefore repeat the importance of GEPA in these matters and the need to protect it against image machinations of others?

It is important that we establish the authenticity or otherwise of the allegation that $132,000 was used to rent accommodation for the CEO and one of her deputies for two years. It would not be difficult to find out the truth. In any case, the answer to the question as to whether or not the two appointees are entitled to the amount mentioned would also expose the malice in the NDC propelled stories. Did the board actually approve the said amount of money?

An amount of $19,500 was reported to have been paid to the Havard Business School for a training programme; according to the story which made the rounds. This too must be quickly verified and to establish whether the board acted rightly in approving it – if they did at all.

Has the CEO and her deputy been drawing emoluments in excess of what they are entitled to?

We have had enough of the spurious-sounding allegations against government appointees that we must now interrogate the charges so that those behind them would be told in the face that they are just being malicious and shamed.

On the other hand if the allegations are steeped in truth, the President whose zero tolerance for impropriety and reckless use of public funds is household knowledge would crack the whip; we can bet.

The President has showed – in the a little over a year since assuming the leadership of this country – his aversion for impropriety and graft and so we are confident that he would not shield any appointee whose conduct is not consistent with decency.

Individual appointees who soil their reputation would definitely carry their own cross when they are exposed.

It is against this background that we call on the auditor general to examine the GEPA with a view to unearthing the truth or otherwise of the allegations. Only this can remove the negative tag hanging around the neck of the authority like an albatross.