Accra, Oct. 20 (Chronicle) -- In an attempt to purge the New Patriotic Party (NPP) from allegations of corruption and leave a clean record to enable the party win the 2008 general elections, one of the presidential aspirants is advocating for the prosecution of some of its party members who were alleged to have tainted themselves with corruption.
According to the new aspirant, also the former Central Regional Youth Organizer of the NPP, Mr. Mohammed Musah, letting individuals like Mr. Isaac Edumadze, Alhaji Moctar Bamba(pictured) and others off the hook and walking in the corridors of the nation freely creates more room for the electorate to believe that the government’s zero-tolerance for corruption is just a mere talk.
“I admit that the government’s zero-tolerance for corruption is not in full force,” he said.
“If it were to be in full force, personalities like Mr. Edumadze, the former Central Regional Minister, Alhaji Moctar Bamba and others should have been prosecuted by now. It is my candid view that they should be prosecuted to purge the NPP as a party committed to curbing corruption in the nation.”
Speaking in an interview with this paper at Kasoa where he served as a government appointee in the Efutu-Ewutu-Senya District Assembly, Mr. Musah, known in the area and within the NPP as ‘94’, said it was unfortunate that with a lot of perceived allegations of corruption against some Ministers, no pragmatic action had been taken against any of them.
“It worries me a lot. If I were to be the president, Edumadze, Bamba and co. would have been behind bars by now,” he emphasized, adding that the extravagant lives these people lived attested to the fact that they should be prosecuted, having previously served as Ministers.
Responding to what he would do if he was given the mandate to lead the NPP, the aspirant, who was tagged as the most ‘controversial trouble maker’ in the area, said he would ensure that anybody who is cited of engaging in any corrupt activities is thoroughly investigated and if found culpable, dealt with to serve as deterrent to others.
Disclosing health, agriculture and education as his priorities, Mr. Musah took issues with Moslems who went to Mecca and were ordained as Alhajis for involving themselves in active politics.
According to him, the tradition of Moslems debarred all Alhajis from telling lies.
“Any true Alhaji should not do politics because they would lie,” he claimed.
In order to project and preserve the sanctity of the Islamic religion as an Alhaji, he asserted that all Alhajis should refrain from engaging in active politics because they would definitely be tempted to deceive people to have their way.
Asked whether he was serious about wanting to be flagbearer of the party as he came nowhere near the pedigree of the other aspirants, Mr. Musah said, “I am not a joker; I have what it takes to lead the party. Is it money or words?
“I contested the chairmanship of the party against Harona Esseku and I lost because the President himself campaigned against me.
“I was more popular than Esseku, but because the President wanted Esseku, it cost me victory,” he explained.
The Kasoa-based sand and stones contractor said his intention to contest was as a result of consistent pressure from the youth, following the delay of one of the youthful and dynamic persons, Dan Botwe, to declare his intention to champion the cause of the youth.
Mr. Musah who had earlier declared that the race was between him and Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku only because they were of the same age, said, “If Dan Botwe comes out today, we shall go back to the drawing board; but if he does not, I will contest others. I will not withdraw from the race.”
The presidential hopeful, a father of three with two wives, said he has acquired a lot of experience from Mr. Botwe and Dr. Apraku, having served as former central regional youth organizer, coupled with his role at the Assembly.
The new kid on the presidential block would be battling the race with top gurus like Nana Addo Danquah Akufo Addo – Foreign Minister, Dr. Kwame Addo Kufuor – Defence Minister, Oseadeyo Yaw Osafo Maafo – MP for Akyem Oda, Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyemang – Minister of Water Resources Works and Housing, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku – MP for Offinso North, Alhaji Aliu Mahama – Vice President, Dan Kweku Botwe – former General Secretary of the NPP and a host of others if the current trend in the flagbearership race of the NPP remains unchanged .
