Ablakwa: Politicians fight for votes

The Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Tertiary Education, Hon. Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa has challenged politicians to channel the same zeal and vehemence they exhibit when fighting for political power in protecting national resources and assets.

Considering how the natural and mineral resources of the country have been pillaged over the years by foreigners with politicians as their main conspirators, Hon Ablakwa, who is also the Member of Parliament for North Tongu stated, it would be of national interest if politicians extend same fierce fighting spirit and seriousness in protecting the country’s resources like they do when they are seeking votes.

“The politicians will want to die, do everything because of power, they must also do same when it comes to protecting national resources and assets; they must not shelve such zeal when it comes to defending what belongs to the people,” he noted.

In an interview with The Al-Hajj, Hon. Ablakwa explained that, he has drawn very useful lessons from the just ended election petition which, he said must be a guiding principle and walking stick for every politician seeking the mandate of ordinary Ghanaians.

He said if politicians can go to the extent of holding the country to ransom by refusing to accept a decision made by over five million people and proceed to court only to say yes to a reaffirmation of that same decision by just nine people, then “it tells you what the politician can do for power.”

“We have lost our gold, oil, timber and other resources to foreigners; we have virtually sold all state lands and bungalows, why are politicians not interested in fighting to keep these prime assets? Take the Auditor General’s report year by year and you will be surprised at the level at which the tax payer's money is been dissipated…why are politicians not interested in protecting it” he quizzed.

The North Tongu MP noted that the manner in which some politicians are fearlessly calling for electoral reforms must be commensurate with how they demand the bridging of housing deficit, developmental challenges and social issues affecting the country.

“Since 1992, we all know the Electoral Commission have been doing some reforms after every election, why the hasty calls for major electoral reforms after the 2012 elections, those politicians engage in that crusade…, can same be said of them when it comes to fighting to have the developmental issues of this country addressed?” Hon. Ablakwa inquired.

He added “they always say they are self-made and that their motive for seeking political power is to serve; if indeed, they want to serve, why is it that they can’t wait for the next year to come, but had to go to court because the people they want to serve rejected them at the polls?”

The Deputy Minister stated that such an attitude shows that there is something lucrative and lavish in the power that politicians seek rather than them saying that they are seeking political power to in order to serve.