They Were Not That Corrupt

After deeply reflecting on developments on the political scene for the past couple of months I had to swallow a humble pie as a proud supporter of the Akatamanso tradition and make some candid admissions. I have come to the conclusion that the NPP was not as corrupt as we made Ghanaians to believe in 2008. Can you imagine if kuffour had doled out 51 million Ghana cedis from the state coffers to Paul Afoko in 2008 ? Or if Joe Ghartey had dashed out 94 million Euro of our money to some faceless gipsies from Europe in 2007 ? Can you imagine how Alhaji and Alhaji will boil the next Saturday morning? I have come to believe that the so called vociferous journalist pre 2000 were all dogs of war for the big boy political fat cats.

What kind of greed is this? Politians conniving with criminals to steal our monies? If this is not greed of the highest order then what is it then? We give out all these monies to thieves and dash to the airport to welcome the president for securing 18 million dollars for SADA. Are we really serious in this country?

I am of the opinion that the time has come to hold politicians to account irrespective of which camp they belong to. This blind following of NPP/NDC will only produce more Woyomes; more Dan Markins more corrupt attorney generals and their criminal lieutenant attorneys. Of what use is this blind following of NDC if the regime will appoint officials who are only interested in sorting out themselves to the neglect of my suffering kith and kin in the Volta region to whom poverty have become an accepted realty of life ?

The dynamics have to change. It is time to follow issues and not people. The hefty 94 million Euro can set up a bank and still pursue many developmental projects. The tax that CP got away with could have constructed more roads through the nook and crannies of the land of my forebears.

With all the reservations that I have about the NPP, kuffour gave the Volta region one of the best roads I have travelled on in Ghana. I mean the road from Ho through Dzolo Kpuita heading through Vane. So should I continue to say because of Busia-Gbedemah politics or Victor Owusu’s assertions which have little to do with the reality of today, I will continue to follow the NDC blindly in the midst of this daylight looting of our resources in the name of judgement debt payment? Or I hold on to my leftist views and support open minded initiatives like the road I just mentioned even if I disagree with the politics of the U.P. tradition ?

I do believe there has to be a paradigm shift. We are simply not going to vote because the president tells us he is a man of peace. In any case, Ghana is not at war. Let’s face it, you can take that to Sudan, Mali or DR Congo. We are also not going to be fooled by the fact that Proff stood up to Dzato hence he is his own man. What is the point in standing up to Rawlings and being at the beck and call of some senior men in the government?

Again personal sincerity and integrity alone will not hold as that will be accessed together with the character and conduct of close associates and appointees. A sincere president whose appointees are corrupt is as useless as the biblical salt without taste.

I have not made up my mind as to who to vote for in December. But at least the scales have come off my eyes to be able to assess every candidate on his or her merit. There will be no blind following of a political party simply because of where my father hails from or because of misguided pronouncement of individuals’ of yesterday. That is the only way we can hold politicians accountable and foster development in our communities. Let’s keep our eyes wide opened this year or else we fall for propaganda once again.

Kormi Afevi