2nd 2016 IEA Presidential Town Hall. . . 3 Candidates urge aggressive fight against corruption

Three presidential candidates contesting this year’s elections are unanimous on the need to fight against corruption more aggressively to eradicate the canker from the Ghanaian society.

While criticising past regimes for weak political will in dealing with the problem, they underscored the need for Ghana’s Asset Declaration regime to be strengthened to serve as an effective tool for fighting corruption.

The three candidates are Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Dr Edward Mahama of the People’s National Convention (PNC) and Mr Jacob Osei Yeboah, the only independent presidential candidate in the 2016 presidential election.

They were speaking at the Second Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) 2016 Presidential Town Hall meeting held last Tuesday at the Best Western Plus Atlantic Hotel in Takoradi. 

The meeting was on the theme: “Reinforcing the Pillars of Ghana’s Democracy.”

It was attended by over 300 participants drawn from civil society, opinion leaders, traditional authorities, clergy, Muslim groups, women’s groups, youth groups, student groups, security agencies, political party leaders, the media and representatives of other identifiable groups.

The IEA 2016 Presidential Town Hall meeting provided an opportunity for the presidential candidates to outline their vision and plans to address the challenges confronting the nation.

The key issues that were discussed related to governance, leadership, foreign policy, social sector (health, employment and education) and criminal justice.

Presentations

According to Dr Nduom, it was not enough to tout one’s own incorruptibility; rather, people should be bold in practising what they preach and lead by example, as he is doing by filing all his tax returns and declaring his assets.

Dr Mahama said he would fire any of his ministers who would be found to have been involved in corruption and Mr Yeboah called for punitive sanctions against those who were found culpable of corruption.

Local government

On local government, Dr Nduom and Dr Mahama favoured the election of metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs) as recommended by several research and the Constitutional Review Commission.

However, Mr Yeboah, popularly known as JOY, held a contrary view.

He argued that identifiable groups within the local communities would have to select three suitable candidates for the President to select an MMDCE from.

On the need to strengthen judicial independence and improve on Ghana’s criminal justice system, the three candidates condemned the release of the Montie Trio from jail by the President.

The three, who were serving four months’ imprisonment, were remitted by the President in August this year.

This gesture, according to them, was too partisan and undermined judicial independence and exalted the culture of impunity to higher heights.

Dr Nduom stated that the three convicts should not have been released from prison, arguing that anyone who threatened judges should be dealt with ruthlessly according to the laws of the country.

 “We have a history in this country where some people agitated and some judges and a military officer lost their lives, and so it is not a joke or a matter of partisan politics when some people threaten members of the judiciary,” Dr Nduom noted.

Supporting the views of Dr Nduom, Mr Yeboah argued that “in this country, some people make noise, threaten people and go scot-free, but those who are quiet rather do not get justice.”

Dr Mahama also expressed his disappointment about the release of the three convicted persons, adding that if elected into office as President, his administration would not condone such impunity.

On foreign and international relations, they were also unanimous in condemning the hosting of the two Guantanamo Bay detainees by Ghana, arguing that the gesture constituted a serious security threat to Ghanaians.

Dr Nduom argued that the detainees did not belong here and wondered whether foreign policy was followed in bringing the two into the country.

While Dr Mahama agreed with Dr Nduom, Mr Yeboah argued that even though there should have been broad consultations before the transfer of the detainees, they nonetheless “do not pose any serious security threat to Ghanaians.”

Education

On the social sector, Dr Nduom was of the view that education should be free from the primary level to senior high school.

Dr Mahama, however, stressed the need for synergy between courses and the educational curriculum of schools and industry requirement in order to make graduates employable.

Mr Osei Yeboah indicated that education was meaningless if it was unable to solve the numerous problems confronting the country.