WAKE UP!

The date is January 25, 2011. The time is 6.00am, and the venue is the Obra Spot, Circle. The Alliance For Accountable Governance (AFAG) will lead all well-meaning Ghanaians on a massive demonstration through the principal streets of Accra, to protest the gargantuan corruption that has engulfed the Mills-Mahama Administration. The action by the pressure group is to wake President Mills up to deal decisively with his senior corrupt government and party appointees who are ruthlessly looting the nation’s coffers.

The Mills-Mahama Administration since assuming power have been bedevilled with a number of corrupt activities, the latest being the payment of over ¢920 billion to Presidential Aide and Chief financier of the ruling National Democratic Congress, Alfred Agbesi Woyome, as judgement debt, for a non-existent contract.

Briefing this paper on the massive demonstration, Director of Research of AFAG, Davis Opoku said whilst President Mills failed to deliver on any of his 2011 action year promises which includes completion and subsequent admission of students into the Volta and Brong Ahafo Universities, the completion of major road works in the country, and full implementation of one-time premium NHIS among others, the NDC as a party witnessed some brilliant action including the acquisition of 80 plots of land at Oyibi near Accra, for an ideological institute, and the construction of a$20 million ultra-modern office complex with state-of-art gadgets. Several government and Party big wigs also put up gargantuan mansions all over the country with the Deputy Minister of Works and Housing Dr. Hannah Bissiw putting up a twin mansion in her hometown, whist others engaged in open scuffles over contracts on radio. The Minister of Roads and Highways, Joe Gidisu received a brand new BMW 7 series as a gift from a Chinese Road construction company to inspect road projects, whilst the General Secretary of the ruling party, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, a.k.a General Mosquito, a board member of the Bui Power Project succeeded in securing a contract to solely supply the project with the most expensive cement blocks.

In all these, President Mills has been loudly quiet in acting, as he continues to sing his chorus of “I’m not aware.” This lackadaisical attitude of President Atta Mills in fighting the canker which has permeated all spheres of government has further emboldened his appointees to rob the nation of its resources with impunity.

Citing the fraudulent payment of the¢92 million to Alfred Woyome, the AFAG leader accused President Mills of fully endorsing the payment which was used to finance the Get Atta Mills Elected (GAME) campaign against Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings. He accused President Mills of veiling his guilt in the matter, behind his supposed God-fearing and “asomdwehene attributes, in the process protecting his appointees who continue to loot the nation’s wealth to the president’s benefit. It will be recalled that after the FONKAR/GAMES a leading member of the NDC Herbert Mensah, announced that he had in his possession a tape which suggested that a whooping ¢90 million was spent to get Atta Mils elected as NDC Flagbearer.

According to Davis Opoku, today’s demonstration is meant to remind President Mills of his social contract with the good people of Ghana when he assumed office. It is meant to prop up the President to live up to his responsibilities of fulfilling his promises and protecting the interest of all Ghanaians. AFAG is also demanding the dismissal of the Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Ebo Barton-Oduro for his complacency in the “Woyomegate” scandal, and the arrest and prosecution of Alfred Agbesi Woyome for perpetuating fraud against the people of Ghana. Already the scandal has led to the dismissal of former Attorney General Martin Amidu, for attempting to retrieve the GH¢92 million from Mr. Woyome, whilst Madam Betty Mould Iddrisu, the Minister of State who facilitated the execution of the fraud by Mr. Woyome has resigned her position. The demonstrators are also expected to call for the immediate decrease in fuel prices which was irrationally increased by between 15-30%. This increase took effect after the courts had directed the National Petroleum Agency to scrap illegal charges it had added to the petroleum price build-up; a directive the NPA has failed to comply with.

Key personalities of the various political parties and members of various interest groups like the TUC, GNAT, GUTA and GPRTU will join AFAG in what will today be the first of many demonstrations to wake President Mills and his team up from their slumber.

The demonstration will start from the Obra Spot, circle and move through the Independence Avenue, Ministries, and finally end at the Hearts Park, where leading members of AFAG and other interest groups will address the gathering. Officers of the Ghana Police Service will be available to provide adequate security to what promises to be a peaceful march.

BY YAW P. K. MANU