Opinions of Tuesday, 19 June 2012

Columnist: Adofo, Rockson

President Mills has let down the Finance Minister

I remember vividly well the objection to Dr. Kwabena Duffour's acceptance to work for the NDC government by a fellow Kumawu compatriot, Rosemary, now resident in the US. Though she disagreed with Kwabena accepting to work for President Mills, she could not make her opinion known to him personally. She said, "Why should Kwabena accept a position in such a useless party full of "kobolos". Kwabena is a person of integrity, hard working, rich, respected and respectable. He is famous and popular at least among the Kumawu citizens. What else does he need that compels him to decide to accept a position in NDC government?" He will surely disgrace himself, she finally said.

When I heard this, I was fuming and said to myself, "Oh poor girl, she does not know what she is talking about. Kwabena has always desired to be of service to his people and country in line with the principles of St. Thomas Aquinas who said, "I want to be of service to humanity" Kwabena accepted the position solely in the believe of helping his country and the people therein. He is doing it for free. He does not draw income, take free petrol, use government cars nor live in free government bungalow. He uses his own money from his private earnings (private companies and investments) to carry out his daily duties of running the Finance Ministry in relation to commuting to work, feeding his family, accommodation and money to live on.

Now as justly said by Rosemary, all the good intentions and charitable work by the Finance Minister Dr Kwabena Duffour have come to naught. They have all been negated by the insatiable greediness by that incompetent Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu, the former Attorney General of the Woyomegate infamy. His offer to render free services to Ghana has turned into evil. The recompense for his efforts that have gone awry is the daily lambasting he gets from Ghanaians. Who is to blame?

I would like all Ghanaians to take note that Dr Kwabena Duffour never personally signed to authorise the payment of that gargantuan GHC51 Million judgment debt to that crook and swindler, Mr Alfred Agbesi Woyome. In spite of all the pressures Betty Mould-Iddrisu exerted on him, he took time to exchange clarification-seeking correspondences with her in which, President Mills was copied. As it is with the "Kobolos" NDC party where any Tom, Dick and Harry can usurp power and arrogate to themselves Executive powers, Dr Duffour was bound to become a victim. Mr. Paul Asimenu, Director of Legal Services at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning went behind Dr Duffour to negotiate with Nerquaye-Tetteh, Chief State Prosecutor, finalize and effect payment of that gargantuan GHC51 Million judgment debt to Mr Alfred Agbesi Woyome.

If Kwamena Ahwoi, Koku Anyidoho and the NDC foot soldiers at various times can usurp the powers of the sleeping President Mills, there is no wonder Paul Asimenu could flaunt the orders of Dr Duffour or take decisions without his knowledge as it was in the case of the infamous Woyomegate scandal. There is no chain of command under President Mills' administration. This is why Kwabena now appears the most disgraced person in the annals of the ministration of Ghana's Finance and Economic Planning Ministry. Money is going missing from the Consolidated Fund by every ticking second of the clock in payment of dubious judgment debts.

In fact from the information available to me, all the judgment debts effected by NDC are dubious. It is only a way for them as a party and personalities within the party to enrich themselves. This is very credible information. They are just stealing money from Ghanaians.

Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu also benefited personally from the GHC51 Million paid to Mr. Alfred Agbesi Woyome. She had a chunk of GHC5 Million. President Mills knows very well that when the trial of Woyome gets really serious, a lot of unpalatable revelations will be made to the detriment of the NDC. For the fear of their election gains being eroded when the absolute truth unfolds, the State Attorneys prosecuting Woyome will keep dragging their feet until the election 2012 is over.

Whatever happens, Dr Duffour is the greatest victim here. Until the prosecution gets serious where he will be summoned to testify as a witness or a defendant, he can never exonerate himself of any blame. Ghanaians will continue to see him as a criminal, conniver and an opportunist. They will continue to lambast him. If it was in the Western civilized world, he would have resigned long ago and instituted actions to clear his name but in Ghana all is a different story.

Dr Duffour is not guilty but only that President Mills is not being helpful to him. President Mills as weak and incompetent as he is, is relying on the NDC propaganda machine to get things resolved to their weird expectation.

Kwabena, good name is better than riches. Initiate plans to redeem yourself of this infamy that the greediness and incompetence of the "kobolo" NDC party have brought to bear upon you. I am with you always not as the usual Kumawu compatriot but for the fact that you did not authorise the payment of that huge GHC51 Million to Alfred Agbesi Woyome.

Finally, I will advise you to re-examine your association with the NDC Government and party. Will you still be openly or secretly campaigning for them to win re-election to come and inflict further corruption, incompetence and lawlessness on Ghanaians? Let your own conscience be your judge.

Rockson Adofo