Opinions of Thursday, 8 February 2018

Columnist: Rockson Adofo

Captain Smart is right to assert that the President's own appointees are sabotaging him

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo

Captain Smart of Adom FM could not have said it better when he proclaimed on his radio programme show this morning, Wednesday, 7 February 2018, at about 08:15 hours that the appointees of His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo are sabotaging him.

He is not the only one to have said or seen that but other discerning Ghanaians are of the same view. They are undermining him or doing what they are doing because they are corrupt. Ghanaian politicians have the tag of corruption hanging loosely around their neck like the once NDC-mocked “Kufuor chain”. Most of them are inherently corrupt and would want to practice corruption but for the fear of the incorruptibility of their leader, they have only to sabotage him.

The President must put his foot down. Someone may tell me it is easier said than done. Whether it is easier or more difficult than meets the eye, most Ghanaians voted overwhelmingly for NPP because of Nana Addo. This an undeniable fact! Subsequently, he had better stamp his authority before his voracious appointees surrounding him cause his downfall to pave way for achieving their insatiable greed.

The truth hurts but as long as it does not belong to he who is leading to redirect their steps, let us not cease pointing out their mistakes to them through constructive criticisms, advice and suggestions.

I had heard from one Eric in London about how honest, dedicated to duty and dynamic Mr Daniel Yaw Domelevo, the Auditor-General, is. He is in the same bracket with Mr Martin Amidu, when it comes to issues having to do with defending the collective interests of Ghanaians. Therefore, if he is pleading with the Attorney General to grant him powers to prosecute indicted person. I shall only advise the Attorney General to heed his plea because he means good for Ghana, for NPP, and for the people of Ghana.

How did I come to hear about him, one may ask? It was when he was promoted to the position of Auditor-General by then President Mahama on his exit from the presidency following his election defeat that heralded in now His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. I was peeved off at the guts by President Mahama to appoint, promote or confirm positions of his deemed favourites while he had a few days to exit power to usher in a new replacement president. I decided to publish an article to protest his elevation.

Just as I was about to, Eric phoned in. As he is a friend with whom I often talk politics, I brought up the crafty and annoying behaviour by the departing president as regards the promotions, confirmation of appointments and new recruitments he was making prior to his egress from power to tie down the hands of the incoming President.

I chanced to cite some of such situations in which the Auditor-General’s was mentioned. He then said, Mr Rockson (he finds it very difficult mentioning my first name as it should, simply Rockson), I beg you, don’t write anything against him because he is such an honest man. He told me how God-fearing, down to earth and even a poultry farmer he became to earn extra money to supplement his salary. Friends were laughing at him wondering why he had come from abroad, doing a government’s job and still involved in farming. He did this because he did not want to touch any money or thing that does not genuinely belong to him hence toiling hard, sweating to earn genuine money.

As I trust Eric, I abandoned my idea of writing anything that was to question the retention of Mr Daniel Yaw Domelevo at the Attorney General Department as its head. And lo and behold, the man has proved his honesty, dynamism and preparedness to serve Ghana with all his soul, mind and heart, beyond doubt.

Therefore, I shall only have to advise the Attorney General to do whatever it takes, if it is within her remit, to grant the Auditor-General the power to prosecute indicted persons as he has requested. He is a genuine person who really wants to serve his country and humanity with distinction and in a God-fearing manner. He is a plus to the President as Mr Martin Amidu is.

It was not for nothing that the President has surrounded himself with certain people suspected to be his close-knit family members. He believes they can assist him to achieve his honest country-changing policies as promised to the Ghanaian electorates. Therefore, they should play the positive roles that will end in the President realising most if not all, of his promises to Ghanaians.

The Attorney General is to speed up prosecutions but not to sit on case files brought to her office. The Chief Justice must ensure judges expedite cases brought before them; declaring verdicts based on available credible facts and evidence before them but not dependent on underhand dealings. She has to select trusted judges to sit on all cases if possible, or on sensitive cases. We expect all judges to be men and women of integrity but history has proved that not all judges are clean, some are so blemished with corruption that they are not fit for purpose.

A word to the family members of the President in his government is sufficient. By your actions, you can make him great and enviable or break him.

Mr President, I am with you always and will publish God’s revelations through his prophets for your attention. Mind you, Mr President, God reveals to redeem but only on condition that you obey and do as He will instruct.