Scandals in Akufo-Addo's young government will defeat corruption fight - Edward Bawa

The immediate-past public relations officer for the Energy Ministry, Hon. Edward Bawa has lambasted the Nana led administration over recent cases of alleged corrupt deals just six months into his[President Akufo-Addo’s] administration.

The energy consultant and current Member of Parliament (MP) in an interview with Kwame Tutu on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm, slammed the president stating that he does not have the will to crack the whip on corruption as promised Ghanaians.

He was responding to the circumstances leading to the sale of over 5 million litres of contaminated fuel by the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST). BOST has said not even a litre of the off-spec product was on the market and that the allegations were false. “Some of the product sold to the off-taker now reside in the tank farm of Zupoil Ltd. at Tema which has been verified as at June 27, 2017.

A joint team of NPA officials, Representative from Consumer Protection Agency, National Security and the Media have inspected the off- spec product so far lifted from BOST depot and is confirmed intact and secured in their yard contrary to the allegations that the product is being sold on the market,” the statement from BOST said. An eight member-committee has been set up to investigate the allegation but Mr. Bawa believes the continuous stay of the current boss at BOST will compromise the investigation.

He said, all we are asking for is to ensure that if there are certain things they did wrong, they should correct it. Some drivers may have purchased the contaminated product.’’ The NPP he added promised to reduce petroleum products but if they cannot do that, they should not sell contaminated fuel to Ghanaians.

The Minority he noted will insist on the interdiction of the Alfred Obeng Boateng for a full scale investigation to be conducted. When asked if the failure of government to interdict the boss will be a smack on the fight against corruption, he said, ‘’the claim by President Nana Akufo-Addo to fight corruption is a Kwaku Ananse Story.

From Ken Ofori-Atta’s bond and to this particular case and what people are doing, it is clear that the current government is not committed to fighting corruption.’’ ‘’If just for six months (6) one agency alone can let the country lose almost 15million GHc, you can look at how things will happen if he is able to find its feet on the job. That is the point I am making.

The commitment to fighting it; Nana Addo must begin to show it based on the current cases that are coming in the early days of his government,’’ he added.