Konongo Fordjour Boston, MA 29 September 2014

Probity and Accountability! Corruption and NPP leadership smear campaign! Who wants to be President in the Republic of Ghana?

Corruption! What is it? How does corruption look like? What is the colour of corruption? Who is corrupt in Ghana?

Do people go to bed with plans to dream to become presidents the following day? Do presidents become corrupt because the position of the president must automatically become corrupt? Ghana had had seven American-style executive presidents so far. In the NPP electioneering campaign, currently ongoing, there have been talks about a candidate pledging not to be like all the predecessors before him perceived to have been painfully corrupt.

Commonly rumoured stories out there state that John Kufuor, was smeared with hotel waa-waa and stories were told about his family dynasty. John Rawlings diverted Ghana's gold reserves to develop the world's most expensive jewellery store in Switzerland. John Mahama has stolen all the money in Ghana into Dubai investments. Kwame Nkrumah also, irresponsibly, distributed Ghana's money to his African presidential friends. John Mills, died prematurely in office and did not have the time to steal enough. Hilla Limann, got booted out of office without having the time to steal.

In all the abovementioned instances, there has not been any evidence to show that our presidents ever got indicted in any known or those wickedly fabricated stories. These men took the challenge to pull their country from poverty, destitution, and misery. They had perfect plans for their beloved nation like any other man who plans to contribute to move his nation forward. Nature revolves around time and the calibre of men surrounding leaders to accomplish mission.

Corruption has never been any president's plan to seek office to dupe and ransack the national coffers. The very same people singing hallelujah to the would-be president, are the very same people who will point accusing fingers to declare crucify that leader. Once one gets onto the seat, then realities become normal daily factors to grapple with.

Who says he is not corrupt in Ghana, and that he can prosecute all the living former presidents? Who wants to be the president of the Republic of Ghana?

Nana Akufo Addo strongly believes that he would be Ghana's best saint and that he is absolutely incorruptible. He did not use government vehicles during his tenure as Abuakwa MP and government minister. I believe he did not take allowances and per diems besides his allocated salary. He lived in his own private home. Nana, on all levels, is not corrupt; neither has he ever been cited in any known corrupt cases.

However, corruption can take so many forms. For example, if one knowingly, deliberately, looks the other side to allow corrupt practices to pursue, that person is corrupt. If a minor (refer to the definition of a minor in the legal statutes) working under her male superior is subdued to do certain things unconventional, to suit the superior's lust, that is also corruption.

Even in our private homes, if we fail to account properly to our families, that is corruption. In a political party, if a leader repeatedly refuses to submit audited report to the entire membership, that is corruption.

Understanding corruption is the first step in providing solutions to corruptible practices. Transparency International broadens the dictionary definition of corruption as: "The abuse of entrusted power for private gain. It hurts everyone who depends on the integrity of people in position of authority".

Corruption seems to be generational inheritance, and has existed ever since Adam and Eve's era. Parenthetically, the definition of corruption is extremely hard to identify. It's lot harder when corruption is stepped further down to cultural dominions. For example, certain practices considered normal in Ghana will receive instant jail term in the USA.

It therefore isn't necessarily true that only presidents, by virtue of their hiring authority, are corrupt but, also all peoples in positions of authority, such as party executives, leaders, flagbearers, etc who have deliberately denied their own parties' audited detailed financial reports. And perhaps failing in, holistically, providing analyses of what-went-wrong-and-what-went-right in a failed system.

Issue-based political campaign is one most powerful tool to dismantle political opponents in electoral season like this one. Corruption is one most important issue to critically look at. The economy and smart financial strategies to protect the nation from "hawks" is another one. Security and international trade follow suit, and so forth. However, Ghana's politics does not follow that trend.

Debates provide avenues for contestants to properly inform their audience about their best reasons over selected talking points why they should be given the chance to lead the party other than their opponents. This is not the case in NPP. Pursuit of One-Member-One-Vote [OMOV] is the best way to settle most of these problems, but her members have deliberately been denied. That is also corruption.

In NPP, for instance, persons are simply rewarded higher positions for being true party faithful and not issue-based election. Faithful personalities are presumed likeable that should translate "emotionally" into winnable. Nana Akufo Addo is likely to win the flagbearership race, but he is hurting himself for the general elections with his corruption statements.

There are two things he can do. One, answer all corruption allegations, such as detailed audited financial reports in his position as NPP flagbearer of both 2008 and 2012 leveled against him, carefully, in a settled mood. That is, moneys solicited publicly, must be accounted for by public figures. Also, what does he plan to do with his corrupt close-knit such as Lord Commey and others?

Two and finally, if he finds it too hard to properly execute the corruption business, he should simply abandon the word, disown his words in the corruption document, apologize to all that may have been offended along the line, and let's move on in unity.

I'm worried about his advisors. Nana had the best campaign strategy on free SHS, which took the nation by storm. To everyone's disbelieve that such a powerful message has been abandoned for a more militant one of All-die-be-die, that cost his second bid. Surprisingly, these architects of serial electoral losses continue to design his electoral message.

Interestingly, NPP's campaigns over the last two electoral seasons have been designed on NDC's precepts such as a repeat of Kenya in Ghana, and even buying into NDC propaganda that our party is equally or more corrupt than NDC. As liberal democrats NPP differs in governing strategies than social democrats of African descent.

Liberals discuss issues freely, hence corruption must be dealt with to the bottom. Who is corrupt in Ghana?

Konongo Fordjour Movement For Universal Voting koafordjour@yahoo.com