NANA VOWS TO CRUSH CORRUPTION

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has reiterated his resolve to strictly ensure that none of his appointees indulge in corruption should he become President.

The experienced politician continues to demonstrate his incorruptible pedigree and record and wants his officers to follow suit.

Addressing NPP members at Manchester, United Kingdom, Nana Akufo-Addo repeated that “If your goal in coming into government is to enrich yourself, then don’t come. Go to the private sector. Public service is going to be exactly that; public service!”

He said that would-be public appointees who intended to amass wealth at the expense of the poor taxpayer should look elsewhere in the private sector because an NPP government will jealously guard public funds.

According to him, he is not against any individual who wants to make money but “if that is your goal, stick to the private sector; don’t come into the public service.”

Nana Akufo-Addo hinted the creation of an office of Special Prosecutor in Ghana’s public space to check corruption as well as ensure accountability saying “the Special Prosecutor will be charged to fight against corruption.”

Throwing more light on the Special Prosecutor, the NPP flagbearer said that “Persons who will serve in this special office will not be chosen by the President but by a formula that will ensure their independence and the capacity to do their work.”

He said for instance that as President he will cause the detachment of the anti-corruption function from Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and give that responsibility to the Office of Special Prosecutor saying that the duties of the commission are too broad for one institution to undertake effectively.

He said that the as presently the CHRAJ as constituted is not strong enough to be the “fulcrum for the anti-corruption drive in our country,” adding “it is an ombudsman, a human rights watchdog and it is also an anti-corruption agency,” he added.

The Communications Director of NPP in Manchester and a Public Health Practitioner, Dr Da Costa Aboagye said the pervasiveness of corruption in recent times is worrying.

“It appears the President and his team are happy with the widespread corruption,” he said.

He questioned why it took government and the security services more than three weeks to respond to a continuous broadcast and publication of an alleged corruption of a professor’s involvement in a $40 million scandalous diabetes money meant for Ghana saying “this shows that the political will to fighting corruption is so low. 

We cannot continue on this lackadaisical path. Yes, it is a difficult task but the lack of political will makes it more difficult. Other speakers at the function included; Mr. Nii Adjiri Blankson, former Mayor of Accra, Wiafe Pepera, MP for Abetifi, Dr. Samiu Nuamah, a former Financial Secretary of the NPP UK and Parliamentary candidate for Kwadaso, Ms Veronica Heming, former Women's Organiser of the Branch and parliamentary candidate for Bole Bamboi and former Chairman of the Branch, Hayford Attah Kruffi.

Nana was accompanied by Captain Edmund Koda (Personal Aide) and Saratu Atta (Executive Secretary). Also present at the meeting were; Richard Dombo (1st Vice Chairman) David Owusu Yianoma (2nd Vice Chairman), Dr. John Kissi ( Secretary), Saeed Duah (Branch Organiser), Kweku Nkansah (Deputy Organiser) Kofi Korsah (Deputy Youth Organiser), Paulina Koranteng (Women Organiser), Nana Yaw Sarpong (Communication Director), Arafat Sulemana (Nasara Coordinator) and other senior members of the branch.

Eid

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had on Friday July 17, 2015 joined Ghanaian Muslims in London for the year 2015 Eid-Ul-Fitr prayers.

Nana Addo prayed with the Muslims at the Broadwater Farms Community Centre Park, North London. Led by the Nasara Team of NPP UK, Nana Addo was introduced to the Muslim leaders. He was warmly welcomed by Alhaji Baba Yaara Haidari (Sarkin faada of London).

He received a special prayer from Imam Abdul-Razak, followed by another prayer from Alhaji Kamil Muktar.

In an address to the huge gathering cutting across various political and religious divides, Nana stated that the purpose of his visit was to extend his ‘Eid Mubarak’ wish to the Ghanaian Muslim Community in the UK.

He expressed his gratitude for the special prayers and the warm welcome that he was accorded.