Gov't Officials Refuse To Be Searched At Our Airports

The youth wing of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), is totally shocked and completely dismayed to learn that despite the directive by President Mills to officials at the country’s entry and exit points to ensure that all persons entering or exiting the country, together with their luggage are thoroughly searched...

...as part of measures he is taking to fight the drug menace, government officials who are supposed to set high examples for others to follow, are the ones flouting this directive, as reported by the Ghanaian Times of Wednesday April 13, 2011, on page 4: “GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS REFUSE TO BE CHECKED”.

It is an unpardonable criminal act for a high powered government official to refuse a normal routine check by a custom official and in anger and sheer display of rude behaviour, smash two whisky alcoholic drinks on the floor, threatening the officer that if he attempts to search him, he will teach him a lesson.

According to the Ghanaian Times report, "a source at the airport narrated many incidents at the arrival hall which had led to what he describes as skirmishes between CEPS and government officials. He said he witnessed a scene where an official, out of anger, smashed two bottles of whisky on the floor in front of a customs officer whilst shouting: do you know me, do you know who I am?"

It is therefore not surprising, that the ‘wikileaks’ report claimed that President Mills is aware that some of his appointees have already been compromised by drug barons and yet has done nothing to check them.

We find it extremely worrying, the manner in which appointees of the president continue to disregard his directives, notable amongst them are the directive that government officials be searched at our entry and exit points, the seven day ultimatum to his appointees to declare their assets, and the directive by President Mills that all traffic lights in the city be fixed before Christmas, last year.

The Youth Wing is therefore calling on the President to initiate a full scale investigation into this matter as reported by the Ghanaian Times newspaper, naming and punishing all government officials who have been involved in such a criminal act, in case the president is still committed to the fight against corruption.

………signed……...

Anthony Karbo

NPP National Youth Organizer