Johnson Asiedu Nketia
APPOINTEES OF President John Dramani Mahama’s current administration have been sternly cautioned against indulging in corrupt practices in order to avoid having issues with the law.
The National Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, giving the warning in a recorded video, stated that the party will deal with former corrupt government officials.
He disclosed that alleged corrupt officials of the former New Patriotic Party (NPP) government are now being prosecuted, warning officials of the NDC government that they could suffer similar fate one day if they also indulge in corruption.
According to him, nobody in the country is above the law, therefore any appointee of the NDC government, who may be found culpable for corrupt practices, would also be prosecuted.
“The prosecution of the former NPP government officials, who are alleged to have indulged in corruption, should be a wake-up call for officials in the present NDC administration to act appropriately.
“Just as the NPP officials are being prosecuted now, so would any official of the NDC government, who would be found guilty of corruption, would also be prosecuted one day,” he stated emphatically.
Asiedu Nketia, who is widely known as ‘General Mosquito’ in political circles, has therefore admonished NDC officials to do away with corruption.
“Our government has taken bold steps to address all issues regarding corruption in the previous NPP government. As we do that, we also passionately advise our appointees of the dangers ahead of them.
“We shall make sure that anyone who has put his/her hands in state funds would be dealt with according to the law. This should remind our appointees that they could face similar fate if they act wrongly one day.
“Just as we are dealing with the NPP members, so they can also deal with our members who may be found guilty of corruption when they come to power. We should all accept that we use state funds to develop the country.
“We don’t collect taxes from the people and share it amongst ourselves, if this weird trend continues, the country would suffer in terms of development, and that can make the public hate politicians,” he remarked.
He also stated that NPP officials, who have been cited for corruption while in political office, should not attempt to apologise to any NDC member to plead on their behalf, saying “it won’t work”.
“If you know someone who had indulged in corruption but his/her name has not been mentioned yet, you can advise the individual to pay back to the state, perhaps his/her punishment could be reduced, but to go unpunished, it is not possible,” he stressed.
Asiedu Nketia stated that the NDC is ready to fight corruption from all angles, reiterating his advice to President Mahama’s appointees to stay away from corrupt practices to avoid issues with the law.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah, Kumasi