General News of Wednesday, 3 June 2009

Source: GNA

Govt challanged to investigate assets of former Presidents

Accra, June 3, GNA - Dr Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe, former Ghana's Ambassador to Serbia and Montenegro on Tuesday challenged Government to investigate assets of former Presidents of Ghana.

He noted that National Democratic Congress (NDC) activists always accused their opponents as being corrupt than their functionaries who acquired properties when in public office.

Dr Nyaho Tamakloe was speaking at a public lecture organised by Ga-Dangme Forward Movement (GFM) in Accra.

The GFM is a pressure group to promote the cause of Ga-Dangme people in relation to their lands and other interests in Greater Accra Region.

The lecture was under the theme: "Revolutionary Politics in Ghana". Dr Nyaho Tamakloe warned that the opposition would resist any attempt to drag the country back to the revolutionary period because Ghanaians had accepted to be gove rned by democratic means and rule of law and not by dictatorship.

Professor Mike Ocquaye, Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament said the June 4 Revolution was a misconception created by the military junta to prepare Ghanaians to accept the 31st December, 1981 coup d'etat. He called on the youth not to take the current democratic dispensation chosen by Ghanaians for granted since the June 4 Revolution curtailed the development and maturity of Ghana's political systems because it did not allow the June 18, 1979 elections to take place. Prof. Ocquaye, who is also Member of Parliament for Dome Kwabenya urged those who want to celebrate the June 4 Uprising to reflect on the killings, tortures and arbitrary trials during the period whether ideals of the revolution were achieved.

He challenged Government to come out with policies that would help in the fight against corruption rather than accusing their opponents as being corrupt.

"The difference between NPP and NDC is that while the NPP believes in democratic governance and rule of law, the NDC take its antecedents from revolutionary rule, "he said.

Nii Kwartei Titus Glover, an NPP activist called for the immediate release of Mr Kwadwo Okyere Mpiani, former Chief of Staff being held in custody at the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI).

He pointed out that if Government had credible evidence of wrong doing against him, they should prosecute him rather being held at the BNI.

Nii Glover said Ga-Dangme people had always been deceived and abandoned by the NDC after using them to attain political power. He noted that the increasing poverty and squalor in Ga Mashie was due to the demolition of Makola market during the June 4 Uprising because it was the centre of business activity for Ga women most of them bread winners for their families and most of them had not recovered from the shock and loss of their properties. 3 June 09