The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress(NDC), Asiedu Nketia has strongly criticised the media for what he described as their attempts to weaken government’s fight against corruption.
He made this comment while responding to Professor Kojo Yankah’s comments at the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) debate on corruption in Ghana.
[contextly_sidebar id=”pmg3bVVYl31BWYZVDbn6fMN104WBo98g”]Professor Kwesi Yankah earlier raised doubts over the commitment of government and other anti-corruption campaigners to fight corruption when appointed to serve in government.
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.”
However speaking to the media after the same event had ended, Mr. Nketia wondered why the media decided to focus on the corruption aspect when Prof Yankah had highlighted other achievements by government.
“I am sure as a a nation if we are all satisfied in what we have achieved in corruption we will not be holding such fora so even with the little improvement, you want encouragement to be able to do better, but when you come around and all your concentration is about even discouraging a President who has clearly scored highest in this fourth republic, then you yourself you are frustrating the fight against corruption.”
“Didn’t we see the figures that Prof Yankah gave out himself.?Go and look at his chart he indicated that from 2011 to 2014, the transparency Index scoring of Ghana has been improving .. and that is the point where President Mahama has been in government“
According to him, the “media’s interest in painting government as corrupt will weaken its[government’s] resolve to fight the canker” if steps immediate steps are not taken to reverse the situation.
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By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah