General News of Monday, 12 November 2018

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

'Deceitful' Akufo-Addo must stop concealing clear cases of corruption in his government - NDC

Kofi Adams, NDC National Organizer play videoKofi Adams, NDC National Organizer

The National Democratic Congress has strongly hit back at President Akufo-Addo over comments made in South Africa that all corruption cases levelled against his appointees have been thoroughly investigated and cleared because no evidence was found to incriminate them.

Akufo-Addo while speaking at the Africa Investment Forum made an open declaration that he will not shield any corrupt appointee and allow the laws to deal ruthlessly with such a person to serve as a deterrent to others.

He revealed that all allegations of corruption against his appointees have so far been investigated by independent institutions mandated to carry out such functions.

But reacting to this, the NDC described the president’s claims as deceitful pinpointing corruption scandals that have hit Akufo-Addo’s government since he assumed office and how he cleverly finds ways to cover up cases of corruption in his government.

“We find President’s claims deceitful and breath-taking, in the level of disrespect that he has shown to Ghanaians who have been witnesses to massive cover-ups, staged to conceal clear cases of corruption in his government”.

Bemoaning the rate at which corruption cases have increased in the first two years of President Akufo-Addo’s reign in power, the NDC said corruption under the president is epidemic because new scandals keep popping up on daily basis.

The NDC insists President Akufo-Addo’s action has rather served to promote corruption instead of combating it.

They go ahead to list a number of corruption cases they accuse the president of 'concealing' and 'covering up'.

Citing examples of corruption scandals that have rocked the country in the past few months of his reign, the NDC said the $1bn AMERI Novation scandal, BOST/Movinpiina scandal, Cash-for-seats scandal, Australian Visa scandal, Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company scandal, $2.25bn Ken Ofori-Atta Bond scandal, GHC23m theft concerning the pre-mix fuel that was diverted, and many more which were all gone unpunished by the President contradicts his claim that he has conducted credible investigations into the myriad of corruption cases.

According to the NDC, the President’s inaction towards the scandals clearly shows how he prioritizes defending his corrupt appointees over the interest of Ghanaians.

In a statement signed by the National Organiser of the party, Kofi Adams said “the fight against the corruption epidemic under President Akufo-Addo must be taken seriously than the flippant approach he has adopted. His claim that all instances of corruption under his watch have been investigated and his appointees cleared because no evidence was found is deception”.