Presidential candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has committed to keeping his appointees, especially state ministers in check. This comes on the back of numerous instances of corrupt activities which have plagued the current New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.
The former President mentioned that running a lean government would be the first step towards this goal. He acknowledged that all that the oversized cabinet of 120 ministers, of this government, could ‘offer was to run the economy aground’.
Mr. Mahama proposed to the media; “I will run a lean, highly effective, and efficient government of no more than 60 (sixty) ministers and deputy ministers”. And this would be a government which will be devoid of any corrupt activities, “this is solid proof of my genuine commitment to curbing government expenditure. My leaner government will be the cleanest government Ghana has ever experienced”.
The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) government has been riddled with appointees’ involvement in illegal mining (Galamsey), influence peddling, capture of state lands and resources have been the order of the day.
For this the flagbearer of the NDC has made a public commitment to start the fight against corruption from within his party; “My goal is to launch a renewed fight against corruption. I will keep my appointees in check”
He added that members of the current government will be prosecuted for past corrupt activities; “…and Ghanaians can be assured that drastic steps will be taken to punish the corrupt officials and their accomplices in this present government. No actor in this NPP corruption enterprise will be spared. We will also take action to repossess what has been unlawfully stolen from the Ghanaian people”.