General News of Sunday, 26 May 2013

Source: XYZ

Only Jesus Christ can rid Ghana of corruption – Appiah-Ofori

Anti-graft campaigner Paul Collins Appiah-Ofori has told XYZ News that only Jesus Christ can end what he described as endemic corruption in Ghana.

The former Asikuma Odoben Brakwa Member of Parliament said: “There’s no hope for this country”, stressing that: “Unless Jesus Christ becomes the President of Ghana, there’s no hope”.

Mr. Appiah-Ofori who was contributing to a discussion about anti-corruption measures announced by the Presidency to cleanse the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) of corrupt officials, bemoaned what he described as widespread “collusion and connivance” by heads and staff of various state institutions to rip off the nation.

He said: “If I catch you stealing and nothing happens to you, then when I come I have to collect mine and allow you to continue”, adding that: “…We don’t punish them and they get away with their loot; they get away with all [sorts] of corrupt practices and as long as this continues, there’s no hope for this country”.

Mr. Appiah-Ofori said the efforts of anti-graft campaigners is being thwarted by systemic hurdles which stifle progress in ridding state institutions of corrupt officials.

He added: “When I was a Member of Parliament, I’ve been stating hard that we should initiate prosecution to get the Attorney General (AG) to prosecute those found to have perpetuated fraud against the state and the Auditor General [but] try as I did, nobody supported me so it continues”.