Yes they might be: that is what P.C. Appiah Ofori, the anti-corruption campaigner has said. You might say he didn’t say that because he never used the word thieves when he alleged that some members of our parliament took grafts before approving the Vodafone deal. But, I think differently since corruption and thievery are bed follows- they are both “devils”. The corrupt individual is also a thief because they reap where they have not sown. As a point of fact, they are more deadly and lethal than thieves. This is because their actions directly and indirectly relate to most of the social vices- armed robbery, prostitution, drug trafficking, etc. that we are witnessing in our country today. Apart from the fact that these corrupt individuals are greedy and selfish, they are also nation wreckers.

If our parliamentarians do not know, or if it has not entered their heads, the allegation by P.C. Appiah Ofori is a serious one which needs to be addressed once and for all- we should get to the bottom of the matter. This allegation, if not addressed, is going to be an eternal stigma, and also an indictment on the legislature. The allegation raises three major issues regarding the office of parliament, the integrity of the accuser, and the intelligence of the citizens. To say it differently, unless we are not prepared to face it, the unsubstantiated allegation by this man is a triple indictment on the people of Ghana. Let me expatiate on the triple indictment I have just stated above.

First, an indictment on our National Assembly.-This statement is a serious indictment on the credibility of our parliament. It means that if the allegation is true, then our parliamentarians have betrayed the trust and confidence we have reposed in them. It also means that they did not serve the interest of the people of the country, failed to protect our national asset, and instead acted in a way that satisfied their parochial interest. I hear that the privileges committee of parliament is looking into this matter, but how many years do they need to come out with the truth? Wouldn’t it be nice or worthy if the committee gives us an up-to-the-minute account of what is going on instead of keeping us in suspense? What the man is saying is very simple, but serious: that the members of parliament took bribes. Probably, they do not understand the inference of this allegation. He is saying that they are thieves and I am surprised that they are still dead silent on an issue with such a cosmic embarrassment. For me, it is neither here nor there which political group has been implicated in this allegation since in the parliamentary Hansard, it is recorded that the Vodafone deal was approved by the house. To be able to exonerate or acquit parliament from this embarrassing allegation, they have to take action- a quick one to let the whole world know whether the man lied to us- a crime, which I think should lead to disciplinary actions against him; and if he is right, then the culprits have to be dealt with according to the laws of the land.

Second, is the indictment on the reputation of the man himself- We were not born yesterday for people to put unsubstantiated information in the public domain and expect us to consume them without proper interrogation. In my article, titled “P. C. Ofori: the enemy within?”, published on (www.ghanaweb.com, 14.7.2009) and other media networks, I treaded cautiously since I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. After all, there is no smoke without fire; but this smoke appears not to be accompanied by any “fire”. There are two theories here: either the man made the stuff up or he is speaking the truth. That is the more reason why we deserve to know which of the above two suppositions is correct. Honestly, the reputation of Mr. P. C. Ofori is on the line should he fail to substantiate this albatross which is stickily hanging on his and the nation’s neck. Discerning people will continue to doubt his credibility if he fails to put his money where his mouth is.

Third, is the indictment on the intelligence of the good people of the land- It is only people who are gullible or seeking to score political points who will accept the allegation by P. C. Ofori as the gospelic truth. As I kept saying, he might be telling the truth, but at the same time we should not accept his story as an absolute until he backs it with undisputable evidence. Why should we believe a man who has put on record that for his party to suffer humiliation for her complicity in the Vodafone deal, he will not spill the beans? Somebody who claims to fight against corruption, but puts his country on the back burner when the reputation of his political party is on the line regarding issues of corruption, should not be wholly trusted. He makes all of us fools if we tread the same path with him without properly interrogating the allegation. The good people of the land should prove to Mr. P. C. Ofori that we are not nincompoops.

In winding up, I would like to appeal to the good people of our motherland to be more nationalistic than “partylistic”. This is because it is only after we have come together as a nation, and not as party members that we would be able to transform our economy. Thus, issues, such as this should be discussed dispassionately for us to move forward as a people. Those who think that the allegation is the cup of tea of the former majority members of parliament should also not forget that it is all about our parliament- parliament of the Republic of Ghana. If our MPs are not perverts as alleged by our so far unconvincing anti-corruption campaigner, they should exonerate themselves.

God bless Ghana!!

Kingsley Nyarko, PhD, Psychologist & Educational Consultant, IAF- Munich, (kingpong73@yahoo.com)