General News of Monday, 23 July 2001

Source: Joy Online

Govt Showing Weakness In Zero Tolerance - Bagbin

The Minority Leader in Parliament, Mr Alban Bagbin, says there are signs of weakness in the NPP government's commitment to the policy of zero tolerance for corruption. According to Mr Bagbin, even though the National Democratic Congress (NDC) supports the government's zero tolerance policy because "its adoption and implementation is in the best interest of the nation, the lack of willingness to take action on some corrupt practices is a matter of great concern.

The Minority Leader was speaking at the plenary session on the "National Situation" at the first ever Homecoming Summit in Accra for Ghanaians living abroad. He said President Kufuor's decision not to probe the Sahara Oil issue, among others, is a matter that must be looked at.

On efforts at national reconciliation, he said it must be genuine, devoid of recrimination and witch-hunting and should start from March 6, 1957 to cover the entire political history of the country.

Mr Bagbin praised the government and the organisers for staging the summit saying it is a good beginning "and we must build on it." He said while efforts are being made to bring those abroad home, "the concerns and needs of those at home should not be overlooked to the extent that they end up leaving too."

Mr Bagbin proposed the compilation of a database of Ghanaians living abroad to make the dual citizenship law before Parliament effective and comprehensive.