CPP calls for inquiry into "Kickback at Castle"

Accra, Nov. 30, GNA - The Convention People's Party (CPP) on Wednesday called for a judicial, independent or bi-partisan inquiry into media reports alleging corrupt practices involving the seat of Government.

Dr Edmund Delle, National Chairman and Leader of the CPP, in a signed statement, said it viewed statements in the media attributed to the Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Haruna Esseku about moneys being received and disbursed at the Castle. The CPP said given its commitment to the democratic order: "We believe that the allegations should be properly investigated by way of a judicial, independent or bi-partisan inquiry to establish the full facts."

It said in the event that the allegations were "proven the full rigours of the law must apply in order to restore sanity and decorum in the political process".

The CPP recalled that in the run up to the 2000 Elections the NPP mounted an extensive anti-corruption campaign to highlight corruption involving the National Democratic Congress government and high ranking government officials.

"President-elect, Mr John Agyekum Kufuor made a categorical and unambiguous commitment to zero tolerance for corruption in his inauguration speech in January 2001.

"However, since assuming the reins of Government, President Kufuor appears to have reneged on his commitment to fight corruption." The CPP said: "Allegations of corruption in government have either been dismissed as mere perceptions without foundation, or very little has been done by government to investigate these allegation for the law to take its course."

The CPP said if these allegations were proven, it would amount to a violation of the Political Parties Law, in terms of unfair advantage and generally undermine public confidence in the institutions of State and the democratic process.

The CPP said it "strongly believes that the payment of kickbacks for government contracts is unethical.

"It promotes shoddy works, results in bad roads and bridges and partly accounts for the unnecessary deaths on our roads." It said at "a time of high youth unemployment, closure of factories and collapse of industries, high rate of teenage pregnancy, unaffordable health services and a general sense of hopelessness, we believe that our effort as a nation should be directed towards addressing these problems rather than seeking to use State resources for party political gains".