Nana Addo’s appointees showing signs of corruption – Rev. Martey

Former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Reverend Professor Emmanuel Martey, believes that some officials of the 10-month old New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, are already showing signs of corruption.

The man, who blatantly criticized officials of the erstwhile Mahama administration for being corrupt and having mismanaged the country, appears to be turning the heat on the Akufo-Addo administration.

He has thus called for a constitutional direction to streamline the size of Government in the country, since in his view, a large size government contributes to corruption.

The NPP government has been severely accused following Nana Addo’s appointment of 110 ministers of state, the largest in the country’s history.

The outspoken bishop warned that those NPP appointees who have begun showing signs of corruption, will soon be exposed.

Professor Martey was speaking at a Public Lecture on the Corruption menace in Ghana, organized by the Christian Service University College(CSUC) in Kumasi.

He said Government must prioritize issues of corruption and ensure a vigorous fight against the menace if positive results are to be seen.

“A large Government means large corruption. So we should have a constitutional direction. NPP and corruption, I said clearly that what has been proven, the NPP appointees have begun showing signs of corruption”.

He cited the recent happenings at the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), and urged the President to ensure issues about corruption under his administration are dealt with.

The NPP government has so far found itself in two cases of alleged corruption, with the recent one being the allegations of corruption against two deputy chiefs of staff, by musician and NPP sympathizer Kwame A-Plus, as well as the perceived corruption in the sale of contaminated fuel involving BOST.

There has also been perceived corruption in government’s handling of the Ameri Power Deal, in which the same firm that was being questioned over a supposed bloated contract, sponsored a committee from Ghana to Dubai to hold discussions with them.

Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, was also accused of cronyism by the minority in one of government’s bond issue. Another major scandal, which many were unhappy with, was the allegations of corruption leveled against Boakye Agyarko, now Energy Minister during his vetting.

He was accused by some minority MPs of seeking to bribe them to enable him sail through his vetting with ease. The matter was later investigated by parliament, but the accusers were supposedly unable to prove their claims.

The lecture, on the theme: “Institutional Corruption in Ghana: Causes and Effects” brought other dignitaries including; the outgoing Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group, Ken Ashigbey, and the General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana, Reverend Dr. Opuni Frimpong.

Mr. Ashigbey, who spoke on ‘The Efficacy of Anti-corruption measures in Ghana: What is missing and the way Forward’, said corruption is purely “thievery” and must not be glorified.

He wants political parties to publish their sources of funding used for electioneering campaigns.

He also called for the quick passage of the Right to Information (RTI) Bill and a reformation of the Asset Declaration Act.

Source: citifmonline.com

October 14, 2017