Prosecute Corrupt Ministers - Wayo To JAK

KOFI WAYO, normally described as a thorn in the flesh by some members of the New Patriotic Party, has accused President Kufuor of being too tolerant of the corruption going on under his government, saying that he has turned the concept of zero tolerance for corruption into a joke.

This, he said, is due to President Kufuor's failure to embark on his declared zero tolerance for corruption drive, by not taking immediate steps to prosecute government officials who have been accused of embezzling huge amounts of state funds.

He suggested that in such cases, the persons involved should be prosecuted immediately, so that the law will be seen to be working and thus serve as a deterrent to others with like minds.

In a lengthy chat with The Chronicle in Accra last Thursday, he said there is virtually a stealing galore going on in the country; 'top officials in government, including ministers are travelling out of the country day in day out, with the poor taxpayers' money; collecting per diem in foreign currencies and riding in expensive four-wheel-drive vehicles, whilst the ordinary Ghanaian is struggling to get two meals a day.'

He said " I am disappointed in the Kufuor administration, because we have failed to give relief to the ordinary Ghanaian whom we promised to help in our campaign elections."

Mr. Wayo referred to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT)/Obotan case as a typical example of corruption which the government should have immediately investigated, and prosecuted those found guilty.

He said almost daily, there are reports in the media of people who have been alleged to have embezzled monies, yet you hardly hear of the outcome of investigations against them or the punishment or sentences meted out to them.

Mr. Wayo, alias 'Chuck', the unsuccessful NPP parliamentary candidate for Ayawaso West, said the NPP government is so far a total failure because it seems not to be interested in the plight of the people.

He said the manifesto of the party is perfect and can be described as the bible for the economic success of the country, but unfortunately this has not materialized because, those whom the president has trusted to bring this about are only interested in their personal gains.

Chuck said apart from this factor, most of the ministers have lots of high academic qualifications but they cannot use this knowledge to reduce the poverty of the ordinary people simply because they did not understand the promises they had made to the people.

He asked the president to be bold enough to sack ministers who are not performing at their designated posts, and stop shuffling them about like a game of musical chairs.

He said that majority of ministers are doing virtually nothing but making speeches and travelling outside the country to beg for money.

He said the large number of ministers is another contributory factor to unnecessary spending of public funds to make government officials comfortable.

He said ideally a small country like Ghana should have not more than 15 ministers, and these ministers should be paid a reasonable salary that would enable them buy their own cars, acquire accommodation and all the services that they are currently provided with free of charge, without the taxpayers money doing it for them.