President of the Central University College, Professor Kwesi Yankah has raised doubts over the commitment of anti corruption campaigners to fight corruption when appointed to serve in government.
He mentioned the current special advisor to the President, Daniel Batidam and Yaw Buabeng Asamoah of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who served at the Presidency during the Kufuor administration.
[contextly_sidebar id=”PRB41XHOGawZAIw7HKIpntemNTTLKY9s”]The two, according to him once served in anti-corruption institutions but failed to make any meaningful impact in the fight against corruption in government.
Corruption has become a topical issue in Ghana in recent times with the call on government to address the problem to save the nation from losing millions to the social canker.
Many have questioned the government’s commitment to fighting corruption since key institutions such as the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) are being deprived of the requisite resources to investigate corrupt individuals.
However, the government has said the frequent reportage of corruption scandals is indicative that it is working to uncover such practices and rid it from the society.
Addressing the Institute for Economic Affairs (IEA) conference on corruption, Professor Yankah said it is undemocratic to expect the Presidency to lead the anti-corruption drive.
He condemned President John Mahama for saying, “Mahama is not a Judge,” adding “with such a lame excuse for the lack of anti-corruption initiatives within the Presidency, one would indeed wonder whether the terms of reference in Batidam’s appointment letter will be since his boss is not a Judge.”
“Need I forget Buaben Asamoah formerly of the Ghana Integrity Initiative [GII] whose credentials may have led to his appointment within the Presidency of the Kufuor government…and his impact on anti-corruption within the Kufuor government like others remain unknown.”
Prof. Yankah wondered why the anti-corruption principles of crusaders “suddenly evaporate into thin air when they are appointed to work at the Presidency.”
He advocated the need for more action and lesser exhortation, stressing that Ghana needs “fewer excuses in the rhetoric of probity and accountability.”
He charged Presidents and other political and public leaders to take the initiative by submitting themselves and their offices to probity and accountability “before expecting any national compliance since the buck stops with the leader.”
Prof Yankah observed that corruption in Ghana’s public life is rapidly undermining the future of several generations to come.
“We are simply unleashing misery and terror on future generations and I count on the leadership to lead the anti-corruption today by word and by deed,” he added.
By: Efua Idan Osam/citifmonline.com/Ghana