....NDC replies Nana Akomea
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Thursday re-states its call for investigations into reported corruption against government officials and functionaries.
In a 15-point response to Nana Akomea, Minister of Information's November 27, 2003 meet the press series, the NDC said the Minister's reaction confirms the perception that the Government has a penchant for sweeping dust under the carpet.
Mr John Mahama, who stated the NDC's response at a press conference said, "the dust under the carpet is accumulating; it is pilling up and would soon choke the NPP Government."
He however, assured the nation that, "the NDC would continue to ensure that the dust is swept clean, out from under the carpet and out of the interstices of government...that is how we can ensure good governance, accountability and the rule of law."
Mr Mahama said the issues raised include; the insistence that the Volta River Authority (VRA) fraudulently paid 14 billion cedis as penalty for not lifting crude oil that was not supposed to be lifted and calls for an independent investigation into the issues.
It also demanded investigation into the VRA's Strategic Reserve Plant (SRP), stressing that, "the issue of the SRP represents a clear financial loss to the state and yet the NPP administration is unwilling to properly investigate the matter and bring the officials involved to book."
Other issues are the Speaker of Parliament's 15,000 dollars leave entitlement, saying the Speaker is not entitled to leave in addition to the three recesses of about 22 weeks per year that Parliament goes on.
"If this were so, it would be a precedent for teachers who go on vacation three times a year to also ask for leave and leave entitlement.
"The Speaker's leave and its entitlement paid him leaves open the question of same facilities extended to the First and Second deputy speakers, the leadership of Parliament and indeed all Parliamentarians for that matter."
Mr Mahama also rejected the denial by the Minister of Information about report cessation of the Tamale Lands Commission Trial allegedly by the Vice President and the Northern regional Minister who "used their influence" to stop the trial of a 71 million Lands Commission case.
The NDC urged government to investigate the issues raised by Professor John Evans Atta Mills during his recent press conferences instead of blanket denial by the Minister of Information.
