Opinions of Monday, 12 March 2012

Columnist: Adofo, Rockson

Open Letter to the Finance Minister, Dr. Kwabena Duffour

Dear Finance Minister,

It behooves me, a concerned compatriot, to convey to your attention my praises, worries and indelible suggestions. I greatly admire your devotion of time to rendering selfless service to Ghana. I am of the conviction that it is your philosophy to leave Ghana better than you came to find it. This explains why you are resolutely determined and aspiring to serve Ghanaians in absolute honesty and sincerity by taking up responsible positions in government and in financial institutions in Ghana. Many that know you will attest to how expertly diligently you go about discharging your duties. You place the interest of Ghana above yours, unlike many others that we find to harbour personal parochial interests in the course of executing their official duties. I appreciate your exemplary relentless efforts to walk in the principles of St. Thomas Aquinas. It is highly worthy of emulation and I am proud of you. St Thomas Aquinas said, "I want to be of service to my people" and he really lived to fulfill that dream to the admiration of all and sundry.

Nevertheless, in your current position as the nation's Finance and Economic Planning Minister under a hesitant "God will provide" President, your dreams will not come through easily. You seem to be the only vibrant tree in the forest of abundant creepy trees and bushes. I am worried that your integrity is gradually eroding and getting tarnished by each passing day you remain in the midst of, and associate with, the questionable elements in the NDC party and government. A government runs on propaganda and lies should never have been your portion even though you are desirous to be of service to humanity and your country. President Mills, an acclaimed Christian supposedly based on him being a quiet person looks on whilst his State Deputy Ministers vitriolically insult their political rivals. He seems to abhor politics of insults yet he is on record to remunerate those in NDC that can rain hurtful insults on his political opponents. What a nauseous hypocrisy.

The stench of the overflowing corruption within the NDC has reached the borders of the sky. With the Woyome saga revealing the connivance of some Government Ministers and appointees to dupe the nation of such astronomical sums of money, how comfortable do you feel still staying in government? I see your reputation viciously slurred even though you did not personally authorise, nor paid, nor benefitted from the GHC 51 Million or more judgment debt payment to Alfred Agbesi Woyome. There are surely other such gargantuan debts payments effected by your ministry with or without your accord, same as it be in the case of Woyome. For how long are you going to stick around with a government or political party that has its President passing sanctimonious comments on corruption yet actually relishes and wallows in it like a pig in its pigsty? Kwabena, you are surely aware of the rampant corruption taking place in the government you are proudly involved. In such circumstances, what is required of a noble selfless person of your calibre?

I suggest you hang up the political gloves. You have found yourself in the wrong party and government. Certain obligations are likely holding you down to stay in government a bit longer. Once you have fulfilled any such obligations if any, I will advise you to quit the President Mills' government. He has not the wherewithal to govern a nation. I see him as just a puppet that the corrupt entities within the NDC are using to amass unprecedented wealth whilst he watches like a hungry dog before a bar of soap. The dog sits powerless, agonising in hunger but cannot eat the soap. Kwabena, do the people of your place of birth, your family and your friends the only, and one honourable favour, by resigning from the President Mills' horribly incompetent administration. You earned your reputation through hard work and total honesty. Do not let those hungry for illegal wealth and see politics as an arena for achieving their dubious dreams pull you down through their nefarious activities.

A word to the wise is sufficient.

Thank you.

Yours Sincerely,

Rockson Adofo