Mahama more credible to tackle corruption than Bawumia – Emmanuel Wilson

Anti-corruption campaigner Emmanuel Wilson Jr. has raised concerns about the increasing level of impunity and corruption in the country.

He attributes the wanton dissipation of public funds to the lack of political will on the part of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government to clamp down on graft among appointees since the duo took over the country’s governance seven years ago.

Wilson Jr., the Chief Crusader of the pressure group Crusaders Against Corruption, was commenting on the nature of Ghana’s Asset Declaration Act, which mandates persons appointed to high government offices to declare their assets before assuming office.

Former Auditor General of Ghana, Daniel Domelovo, recently called for the Act to be amended and enforced as a way of protecting public funds.

He said a future government ought to ensure the laws on asset declarations are amended to check the lifestyles of government officials, while urging that the Auditor General be given enough powers to chase officials who misappropriate state funds.

Wilson Jr., who agreed with Domelovo, said it was time the Asset Declaration Act was amended to reward citizens who are able to provide information contrary to what officials file as their assets or liabilities.

“Currently, Ghana’s Asset Declaration regime is a big joke and needs to be amended,” he told Piesie Okrah on Power Kasiebo on TV XYZ.

“When a future president ensures those laws are amended, politicians who occupy high positions will work with caution and the country will save millions of cedis,” he stated in Akan.

Given the current nature of the Legislature, where it is difficult for both sides of the law-making chamber to pass stringent laws to check members and other powerful officials, Wilson argued that a president who is concerned about tackling corruption would work tirelessly to ensure that appointees adhere to the Asset Declaration Act.

Asked if that could happen soon, Wilson Jr. contended that this current administration has lost the opportunity to enforce the laws, stating that this development is the reason many corruption-related incidents involving ministers and other high-ranking officers have not been investigated to their logical conclusion.

“The current Vice President, Dr. Bawumia, who is also the presidential candidate of the NPP, does not talk about corruption, and it has been so since he assumed office.

“If there is anyone who can give the country hope in that regard, it is former President John Mahama, the presidential candidate of the opposition NDC,” Wilson asserted.

To him, the former president, while in office, appointed Daniel Domelovo as the country’s Auditor General and did not care whoever the Auditor General would chase over graft-related issues.

He said Mahama ensured the incarceration of his own appointee, Abuga Pele, a member of parliament whose office embezzled state funds, among others.

“Mr. Mahama still talks tough about corruption and has announced he will cancel ex-gratia when voted for. He has outlined other stringent measures to tackle corruption in his government, which we—Crusaders Against Corruption—find progressive,” Wilson stated.

Nevertheless, Wilson Jr. said his group will continue to advocate for graft to be tackled head-on, regardless of which party attains power after the December 7 elections.