Former Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akomea says, contrary to the ‘off-cited’ references to PDS and Agyapa by the opposition as scandals that dent the credibility of the Akufo-Addo led administration in terms of being incorruptible, is rather proof of the President’s commitment to the fight against corruption.
The Managing Director of the State Transport Company (STC) said, President Akufo Addo’s determination to fight corruption led him to cancel the Power Distribution Services (PDS) agreement in 2019, amidst threats by the US government to withdraw the Millennium Challenge Agreement funding.
Similarly, he said the President again took same steps in the recent Agyapa Minerals Royalties transaction, maintaining that the President, after being informed about the corruption risks associated with the deal, directed the Minister of Finance to return it to Parliament for review.
The former Member of Parliament for Okaikoi South Constituency also cited the recent dismissal of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), Adjenim Boateng Adjei, after a report from the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), found him guilty of conflict of interest. He said these references are enough evidence of President Akufo-Addo’s dedication in the fight against corruption.
He said such good track record cannot be said about the administration of former President Mahama. He accused the former President of reassigning some of his appointees to the Presidency despite them being found guilty of various corruption scandals.
Nana Akomea noted that, President Akufo Addo always do due diligence to issues of corruption brought before him, no matter the parties involved.
He said the setting up of the Office of Special Prosecutor (OSP), is a major step in the right direction in the fight against corruption and also speaks highly of the commitment of government to fight corruption in the country.
He made these comments in a discussion on why corruption has not been a deciding factor for voters in this year’s elections as some surveys have indicated.
Nana Akomea concluded by saying “if corruption is not a big issue it is not because somebody has done Free SHS. It is because really that is what it is.”
Earlier in the discussion, Ghana’s former Ambassador to the Netherlands, Dr. Tony Aidoo, said the incumbent government has managed to cover the numerous corruption cases with the Free SHS catchphrase.
“NPP has been remarkable in getting these matters obscure with the propagation of Free SHS.
“The number of corruption cases that have characterized this government far outweigh the number that characterized previous administrations.”
Adding to Dr. Aidoo’s submission, aide to former President John Dramani Mahama, Joyce Bawa Mogtari, who was also on the show insisted that, there is “deep-seated” corruption in the current Akufo Addo government.
“There is extreme wastage. There is enormous consumption and personally, I have no doubt in my mind that even the matter he mentioned about former president John Mahama’s brother and $5 million pales, in comparison to the graft and corruption and stealing of Agyapa by a few people not many and in PDS, by few people not many.”
