The Progressive People’s Party (PPP) has urged Ghanaian eligible voters not to vote for President John Dramani Mahama for failing to pass the test of probity, accountability and transparency when he took his turn in the recent Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) presidential encounter in Accra.

The PPP in a release signed by its Communications Director, Richmond Keelson, averred that while Ghanaians were yearning to see a little glimmer of hope in the midst of a multitude of accusations of corruption from NDC insiders such as former Attorney-General, Martin Amidu, and the founder himself, former President J. J. Rawlings, the president, who incidentally leads a party which is believed to preach the tenets of probity, accountability and transparency, failed ‘woefully’ in using the IEA platform to distance himself from the charges of corruption in his administration and disabuse the minds of Ghanaians about this growing perception in his administration.

Against this backdrop, Mr. Keelson stated that “President Mahama does not deserve the vote of Ghanaians.”

“Ghanaians simply cannot trust and should never vote for any political party in Ghana that does not disclose the sources of its funding. We all need to know if people, foreign or local will be looking for inflated contracts or judgment debts to pay back the funds they used to finance a political campaign.”

It would be recalled that the flag bearer of the PPP, Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, has on countless occasions challenged President John Dramani Mahama and the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on four personal points on incorruptible leadership, the attainment of which will signal personal incorruptibility and declared intent to fight corruption even before one becomes president.

Dr. Nduom listed the public declaration of assets, provision of certified true copies of income tax returns, submitting themselves to a comprehensive medical examination at a health facility approved by the Ministry of Health, and; publishing their party’s sources of funds before filing nominations papers to officially become a presidential candidate for Election 2012.

And Dr. Nduom in fulfillment of that promise has put into motion all the above.

However, when asked at the IEA encounter if he would take the challenge thrown by the PPP’s presidential candidate for the 2012 election, President Mahama called the challenge “a personal matter” brought up by Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom.

Richmond Keelson in response has noted that “Indeed, it is a matter of personal choice to fight corruption from a leadership position or hide behind books of law with the ‘greedy bastards.’

NDC propagandists have shouted themselves hoarse calling people corrupt at every turn. Many of them from PNDC days took every opportunity to drag entrepreneurs and professionals who had risked their capital and worked hard to their kangaroo courts and without legal underpinnings punished many and destroyed their lives. Such is the foundation of NDC party John Mahama leads.”

The statement continued that for the president to now turn around and refuse to make a personal commitment to the cause of probity, accountability and transparency, he has consequently lost the moral right to lead the fight against the rot that is robbing this country the opportunity to fight poverty, corruption.

The statement clarified that “we are not accusing anyone of being corrupt. All we are saying is, let those who want to lead do so from the front and show a personal commitment that can be emulated by the rest.”

And the party unequivocally stated that transparency, accountability, the truth and personal discipline are needed if we want to move Ghana into a higher level of performance and give our people the opportunity to enjoy a world class standard of living in our lifetime.