Opinions of Sunday, 28 June 2015

Columnist: Smith, Ernest Kojo

Corruption is taking ghana into a point of no return.

Undoubtedly, ever since the dawn of this government, Ghanaians had lived in a great disappointment and despondency.The state resources are under intense erosion by people who have total disregard for the constitution and that the country’s economic development is in complete coma.

Frankly, I decided not to comment on the corruption scandals in the Mahama administration but the truth is someone has to talk because the amount involved is so huge that one cannot just sweep it under the carpet.

Indeed, recounting on the World cup fiasco and the recommendation made by the Dzemefe Commission, I found it rather inappropriate and absurd that the commission only prescribedretrieval of wrongful payment made to officers without attracting interest.

As I speak, the cedi to dollar is now 5 cedis and that whatever business AfriyieAnkrah, AduAsare and E –volution international did with the monieswould possibly yield returns hence the money should attract interest.

This is not the first time corruption has hit the NDC government. The likes of Subah, Gyeeda, Isofotonetc in which the President made a passionate appeal to deal with people who were involved in these corruptionscandals is yet to see the wrath of the President after years of existence.

Not long ago, Trade Minister who pride himself as Team A player has been caught inviting DICs to contribute $35 million to repay a debt in exchange for contracts due to the negligence on the part of the government.

Sincerely, Ghanaians have not seen any decisive measures from the President which shows that the President is indeed committed to the fight against corruption. Just as the Dzemefe Commission recommended, I thinkthe time has come for the President to take a bold step towards people found of corruption irrespective of positions they occupy.

Today, it is reported that government flown $4 million to Brazil instead of the initial official report of $3 million. This shows the level of deceptionby the President and that his easy going has paved way for people to do whatever they like with the tax payers monies.

Currently, there is a persistent and a pervasive feeling of cynicism and hopelessness among the youth about the present administration of John Mahama. This in turn has popularized fatalism and transformed each into predators whose survival depends on the destruction of the other.

It is no doubt that some persons associated with the government are trading on a large scale. Most officials in the public sector use their positions and the resources entrusted to them to increase their private fortunes, at the expense of the nation and the population.

As a matter of fact, some individuals are using Mahama as a protective cover ostensibly collecting monies on behalf of the state but in reality those monies ends up in their pockets.

Regrettably, Ghana is in deep energy crisis. The government is virtually struggling to raise funds to solve the problem. The Accra Drainage System is in limbo due to lack of funds. Meanwhile, taxes which are paid by the citizenry to solve the problems confronting the nation are dole out by thieves who pride themselves as honorable.

Government has been sleeping for so long and that the time is now to wake up!President must be reminded that Corruption is taking Ghana to a point of no return.

Long live Ghana!

Long live CAF!

Signed:

The Leadership of CAF

Ernest Kojo Smith, the Executive Director

Motto:To Uphold Integrity and Accountability, the bedrock of a Nation’s Development©