NPP presidential hopeful blasts Kufuor

A US-based Ghanaian medical doctor hoping to win the NPP?s ticket for the Presidential race in 2008 has criticised President Kufuor?s approach to fighting corruption in his government.

Dr. Arthur Kennedy who is a member of the NPP arrived in the country days ago to begin preparations to launch his campaign for the NPP?s presidential ticket.


Dr. Kennedy?s comments are bound to rustle feathers within the NPP over a controversial subject that has been a reference point by critics of the administration.


President Kufuor has made it clear that he would not waste state resources investigating newspaper allegations of corruption against his ministers unless they are backed by evidence.


But Dr. Kennedy tore the president?s argument apart whilst campaigning in Cape Coast at the weekend.


When asked how he expects to get the NPP?s support by openly criticising the President, Dr Kennedy told Super Morning Show host, Komla Dumor that disagreements voiced in private should be made public.

?Disagreements have been voiced in private. It is time to take them public. I frankly think that the idea that people who have credible allegations of corruption should bring evidence is ludicrous.


The NDC did the same thing, for example that there was no provable allegation against minister and we were unhappy with it. I think no private citizen can match the breath and depth of the government?s resources so I think that one of the things that President Kufuor has ever said was that he had zero tolerance for corruption, I personally do not have any evidence that any member of the government is corrupt but I have personally not seen evidence that Mr Kufuor is working aggressively to make real his zero tolerance for corruption pledge,? he said.


Meanwhile, a political scientist at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has played down fears that aspiring NPP Presidential candidate Dr. Atta Kennedy is endangering his bid by being critical of the President.


Prof. Adei Yeboah says Dr. Kennedy?s critique of President Kufuor?s commitment to his declaration of zero tolerance for corruption should be an indication that he is independent minded, a quality that is likely to pay-off.


But Prof. Yeboah says even though it is risky for the aspirant to be critical of government, he is likely to win support for being daring.