Ghanaians Abroad Against Corruption(G.A.A.C)

Press Statement

GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC POLICIES BREEDING CORRUPTION AND POVERTY IN GHANA

Ghanaians Abroad Against Corruption is appealling to President Mills and his government to review economic decisions and policies that are creating extreme hardship and desperate poverty. There is more work to do as people and families struggle with their finances, struggle to get loans from banks and also not being able to save any money from their wages .

We believe that the hardship being faced by most Ghanaians is forcing individuals to live beyond their means and causing the kind of corruption going on at our market places, offices, ports, schools and in government departments.

We believe it is time the President and Ministers work to

1. Address serious gas and electricity shortages plaguing the capital, Accra and several towns in the outlying areas.

2. Reduce high taxes and tariffs which are weakening small businesses.

3.Stop the excessive harassment of our traders and market women by our metropolitan council authorities and exempt them from paying the basic rate of tax to boost business.

4. The price of food is also rising steadily on essential commodities such as rice, sugar, flour, yams, meat and fish. The President must reduce tariffs on inputs to make it easy for importers to support farmers and traders in these commodities.

450 billon Ghana cedis has been lost through our main ports, Tema and Takoradi and our inland ports in 2 years through the collusion of some government ministers ,officials at the office of the presidency and some corrupt customs officers. These corrupt acts are destabilising to the nation’s security and prosperity and heads must roll for this poor state of affairs.

We also call on the President to support the work The Commission of Human rights and Administrative justice to pursue corrupt public officials and address wrongdoing in our society to promote accountability.

Professor Mills must be careful in underestimating the intelligence of the Ghanaian people in not confronting these challenges and dealing with them. There is also a perception that he has yet to show any willingness to condemn or crack down on indiscipline within his government, He must stamp his authority and get them to refocus on rebuilding trust with the public and delivering the government agenda.

Mr President please its time to act now.

Dennis Doe- Vormavor Interim Chairman Ghanaians Abroad Against Corruption. Glasgow, Scotland