Extend declaration of asserts to cover top civil and public servants

Gomoa Ankamu (C/R), Feb. 28, GNA - An Anti-Corruption Campaigner, Alhaji Osman Moro Fukuyama, has welcomed the directive of President John Evans Atta Mills to the effect that Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) officials should declare their asserts. He also commended the President for taking prompt action on the report of Mr Anas Armeyawu Anas's investigations into the corrupt practices at t= he Tema Port. The Anti-corruption Campaigner said the prompt action taken demonstrated the President's commitment to fight corruption in the countr= y. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview at Gomoa Ankamu near Apam, Alhaji Fukuyama who is also the Deputy Director of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) in the Central Region, appealed to the President to extend the declaration of Asserts to cover other Civil and Public Servants holding key positions in the country. Alhaji Fukuyama called on Ministers, heads of departments and organizations to make follow-ups on issues they had referred to their subordinate staff to minimize delays encountered by people whose applications had been submitted to their offices. He said such delays compelled the frustrated applicants to bribe their way out, and stressed that if applications were treated with dispatch, bribery at work places would be minimized.

Alhaji Fukuyama appealed to the Police administration to liaise with the leadership of drivers unions to find means of dealing with drivers who put money in their documents to bribe police personnel on road checks. He said society looked over such corrupt practices because they sympathized with the poor salaries police personnel were paid previously bu= t with the Single Spine Salary Structure which had enhanced the salary of the police considerably, the society expected them to stop taking money from drivers as a sign of showing appreciation for the enhanced salary. He said taking money from drivers without checking to ensure that the vehicle was in good condition also accounted for the high rate of road accidents.