Mahama Abets Corruption In Ghana

Not very long ago, the American government announced that they will not give visa to corrupt African government officials since then Ms. Anita De-Soso has been stopped at the airport and been refused entry into the United States. Though there is a side issue of an American lady who has said that Ms. De-Soso made threats to her and that was the reason Ms. De-Soso was not allowed into the United States. Ms. Michelle McGowan has since recanted the story and “apologized” to Ms. De-Soso, there are issues that go beyond he said, she said.

If ever there was a “no brainer”, this is a perfect example of it. It does not take much thinking to have a policy that if American government refuses a government official a visa, Ghana government will investigate that official to find out what American government knows that Ghana government doesn’t know. If it takes a new law to do this, so be it. Guess who has the utmost interest, if not responsibility, of making sure that the process of making the law required, if indeed a law is required, is initiated.

President Mahama vowed to fight corruption in government. Not only has he not done that, there seems to be a wide spread opinion that his government is corrupt. Won’t it be a nice opportunity for President Mahama to show the people Ghana that he is really interested in investigating corruption? It is in his interest to investigate the issue. It is in the interest of the people of Ghana for the government to investigate it. Most of all, it is in the interest of Ms. De-Soso for government to investigate the issue. After all won’t it be nice for government to say they have investigated the issue and find that Ms. De-Soso did nothing wrong?

Some will say that the accuser has recanted and that should exonerate Ms. De-Soso; No. I refuse to accept that American government will use the powers of government to get between a fight between two people. There must be more to it. If what will bring American government between these two people is terrorism threat, we the people of Ghana must know that. If nothing at all, it will serve as a warning to us to learn the consequence of threatening an American in Ghana. If American government made a finding on which they based the decision and Ghana government disagree with them, we must know that. If Ms. De-Soso is actually corrupt and Ghana government had no clue, we must be about the business of exposing her and people like her and take appropriate action against them. We cannot in any way sweep this under the rug.

President Mahama will be abetting corruption if he does not deal with this issue. So far he seems to be sweeping it under the rug. He cannot but be corrupt himself if this is his approach and it will reinforce the notion that his whole government is corrupt. A strong opposition party will be sure to insist in a real investigation rather than just take a swipe for political advantage. Showing us that there is, “the rule of law” in our country starts here. We the people of Ghana must insist on it. Ms. De-Soso must insist on it if she is innocent of the accusation. Until such time that the government speaks on this issue, Ms. De-Soso is guilty in my book; she is corrupt.

Tony Pobee-Mensah

tpmensahr@yahoo.com