Group raises concern about worsening political division

Kumasi, July 28, GNA - Democracy and Freedom Alliance, a political pressure group, has expressed concern about what it describes as the worsening political division of the country, and urged the Government to address the situation.

The Mills Administration, it demanded, should be even-handed and fair in the use of state power for the protection of all, regardless of political association.

Mr Mohammed Bashir Tijani, Democratic Freedom Party's (DFP) Parliamentary Candidate for Asawase in the last election and Spokesman for the Alliance, said it was totally unacceptable that "only supporters of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) have become beneficiaries of state protection, largesse and jobs." This was contained in a statement read at a press conference in Kumasi on Tuesday.

The Group noted that "not a single day passes" without reports about some people having been sacked from their jobs just on the basis of politics.

This, it maintained, was certainly not the way to go if Ghanaians were to live in genuine unity and peace.

The group also said they were unenthused by the Government's performance in the fight against corruption and its campaign to anchor the country on the firm foundation of probity and accountability. It said it was not enough to enact the Whistle Blowers Act and Freedom of Information Act but, more significantly, to provide the right leadership that would ensure that the spirit and letter of these laws are respected.

To them, the Government's actions against the Chief Director and Chief Accountant of the Ministry of Youth and Sports were "an open attack on probity and accountability."

The two men, especially the Chief Accountant, who blew the lid over acts of malfeasance at the Ministry, the Alliance said, needed to be celebrated as heroes but not to be sacrificed as scapegoats for political expediency.

They also suggested to the Government to order a different probe into the "Ghana at 40" celebration, to convince all that it was indeed ready to fight corruption, no matter who was involved. They called on Professor John Evans Atta Mills to show clear signs of commitment towards delivering on his campaign pledges. According to the group, Ghanaians had fulfilled their side of the bargain by voting for him to lead the country, and that it was now up to him to live up to his promises of reducing fuel prices drastically, distributing free school uniforms, and ensuring that people go to bed without the fear of armed robbers, among others. 28 July 09