Omanhene condemns alleged bribing of Assemblymen by nominees

Apam (C/R), May 24, GNA - The Omanhene of Gomoa Akyempim Traditional Area, Obrifo Ahunaku Ahor Ankobea II, has called on Ghanaians not to use politics as a platform for corruption or indiscipline.

"We must not encourage the assertion that politics is a dirty game," the Omanhene stressed. He was commenting on reports that some Assembly members were demanding money before confirming nominees for the post of metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives.

"I am highly disappointed at the revelations that some assembly members demanded bribes before voting for the nominees and in some cases refused to vote for them after collecting the bribe," he told the Ghana News Agency in an interview at Apam.

Obrifo Ankobea wondered where Ghana was heading, if people should collect bribes before exercising civic duties. He expressed the hope that the trend would not degenerate into a situation where the electorate would also demand money before voting for candidates in the upcoming district level elections. He appealed to the government and the Electoral Commission to devise means that would discourage the collection of bribes under such circumstances.

He held that Assembly members who collected monies before confirming nominees were encouraging corruption because none of them would have the moral right to question the chief executives when they are involved in corrupt practices.