PRESIDENT John Evans Atta Mills last Friday reiterated his government’s commitment to deal drastically with people found to have misappropriated state funds.
He emphasised that his government would not sit down unconcerned, while the nation’s resources are mismanaged to the detriment of the country’s development.
The President made this position clear when he addressed separate durbars at Gomoa Assin and Essuehyia in the Gomoa West and Mfantsiman Districts, as part of his two-day visit to the Central Region.
Supporting President Mills’ commitment to fight corruption, the paramount chief of Gomoa Akyempim Traditional Area, Obirifo Ahumako Ankobea II, urged him to leave no stone unturned in this task.
The Times supports the fight against corruption for the simple reason that the millions of cedis that have been stolen by corrupt government officials, public officials, politicians, corrupt businessmen since independence, could have been used to make life better for the people.
The millions of cedis belonging to the state stashed in private bank accounts in individual names could have been used to build hospitals, schools, provide water and improve roads, among other basic needs, of all the rural areas of the country.
As things stand now, governments in Ghana have, over the years, not been able to undertake most of the programmes on their manifestoes owing due to the non-availability of funds, partly because of the corrupt practices which have robbed the state of the needed revenue to improve the lot of Ghanaians.
No society can develop and flourish or achieve its objectives of improving life for its people when resources meant for the millions of people are cleverly diverted into the pockets of a few. No wonder, Africa is so poor while a few Africans are so rich.
Our society has witnessed situations in the past when generators meant for public hospitals landed in private homes. So while patients died on theatre beds and while drugs could not be properly kept for lack of electricity supply, leading to the death of many, the few thieves have lived in opulence.
The Times will welcome a situation where chiefs and other leading members of the society at all durbars will speak out boldly against corruption and other forms of negative practices that have impoverished our people since the creation of this country.
We have to avoid a situation, where through corruption some officials build mansions, buy fleets of vehicles and live fat at a time their organizations are sinking because of corruption, stealing and other evil acts.
In times past, talk of dealing swiftly with corruption has remained mere talk; a lot of bark and no bite. That is why very few people take threats such as the President’s as words that “will soon pass”.
Let us see some more action this time, Mr President, in the fight against corruption.
He emphasised that his government would not sit down unconcerned, while the nation’s resources are mismanaged to the detriment of the country’s development.
The President made this position clear when he addressed separate durbars at Gomoa Assin and Essuehyia in the Gomoa West and Mfantsiman Districts, as part of his two-day visit to the Central Region.
Supporting President Mills’ commitment to fight corruption, the paramount chief of Gomoa Akyempim Traditional Area, Obirifo Ahumako Ankobea II, urged him to leave no stone unturned in this task.
The Times supports the fight against corruption for the simple reason that the millions of cedis that have been stolen by corrupt government officials, public officials, politicians, corrupt businessmen since independence, could have been used to make life better for the people.
The millions of cedis belonging to the state stashed in private bank accounts in individual names could have been used to build hospitals, schools, provide water and improve roads, among other basic needs, of all the rural areas of the country.
As things stand now, governments in Ghana have, over the years, not been able to undertake most of the programmes on their manifestoes owing due to the non-availability of funds, partly because of the corrupt practices which have robbed the state of the needed revenue to improve the lot of Ghanaians.
No society can develop and flourish or achieve its objectives of improving life for its people when resources meant for the millions of people are cleverly diverted into the pockets of a few. No wonder, Africa is so poor while a few Africans are so rich.
Our society has witnessed situations in the past when generators meant for public hospitals landed in private homes. So while patients died on theatre beds and while drugs could not be properly kept for lack of electricity supply, leading to the death of many, the few thieves have lived in opulence.
The Times will welcome a situation where chiefs and other leading members of the society at all durbars will speak out boldly against corruption and other forms of negative practices that have impoverished our people since the creation of this country.
We have to avoid a situation, where through corruption some officials build mansions, buy fleets of vehicles and live fat at a time their organizations are sinking because of corruption, stealing and other evil acts.
In times past, talk of dealing swiftly with corruption has remained mere talk; a lot of bark and no bite. That is why very few people take threats such as the President’s as words that “will soon pass”.
Let us see some more action this time, Mr President, in the fight against corruption.
