Rev. Emmanuel Martey
The current Akufo-Addo administration has appealed to all Ghanaians making allegations of corruption against some public officials to specifically identify them for action to be taken.
Minister of Information, Mustapha Hamid, made the appeal in a statement released in response to recent claims by former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rev Professor Emmanuel Martey that some members of the Akufo-Addo government were “beginning to show signs of corruption.”
According to the statement, “The Akufo-Addo administration welcomes feedback on its performance.”
However, it said “feedback is best when it comes with concrete pointers. Government takes a serious view of Prof. Martey’s comments and wish to state the following: that it is prepared to work with senior citizens like Prof. Martey to actively combat corruption in our body politic.
It indicated that “it will however serve us better if in the future, such comments are accompanied by specific examples rather than generalized in a manner that is difficult to put a finger on.”
In this case, Prof Martey said a company providing vehicles to MASLOC for trial in order to prove their durability ahead of a future contract signals “signs” of corruption. Government is of the view that the case cited does not support the general narrative by the good Professor, it added.
The statement said the Akufo-Addo administration, since its inauguration, has made the protection of the public purse a top priority.
The strong enforcement of Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) commitments before the release of government funds, the cleaning up of ghost names from various pay rolls, efforts at improving procurement processes to eliminate windows of opportunity for sole sourcing, a general cut back of privileges of ministers and other government officials such as restriction on purchases of vehicles and the introduction of paperless operations across government platforms are all aimed at ensuring the elimination of opportunities for corruption, it said.
“Government wishes to encourage all citizens to work with the relevant agencies to ensure that we win the fight against corruption by providing credible specifics and not general narratives which will be difficult to prove or act against.”
By Melvin Tarlue