Final IEA Debate - Four candidates pledge to fight corruption, crime
Abigail Bonsu
Politics
5 minutes read
Unlike the first debate in Tamale and the subsequent Vice-Presidential Debate in Takoradi, the organisers made some modifications in the programme, allowing the presidential candidates to sit and answer questions posed to them and reducing the duration of the debate considerably.
President Mahama said the government had put in place measures to address crime, resulting in a reduction in the crime rate from more than 4,000 to about 2,000.
He said the government had also recruited 4,000 police personnel to beef up the strength of the Police Service, increased the budget for the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) from GH¢4 million to GH¢7 million and reviewed the Economic and Organised Crime Law to deal with white-collar crime.
On the issue of judgement debt, he said the decision was given by the courts.
He said the issue had to do with the cause of judgement debts, adding that much as it was true that somebody could manipulate the system to fraudulently claim judgement debts, if there had not been frivolous cancellation of contracts, the problem would not have arisen.
President Mahama expressed his commitment to ensure the election of district chief executives in order to deepen the decentralisation concept.
For his part, Nana Akufo-Addo said the increase in the rate of armed robbery made mockery of the government’s promise to make crime a thing of the past.
He said a government of the NPP, under his leadership, would continue the rapid expansion of the Police Service by providing the service with more vehicles to enhance the discharge of its mandate.
He said there was also the need to strengthen the Ministry of Justice and the Judiciary, adding that there was the need to expand the economy to reduce crime and armed robbery.
Nana Akufo-Addo said the remit of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) on corruption was too large and so there was the need to have a dedicated anti-corruption agency to deal with corruption.
On judgement debts, he said the big issue concerned official collusion in the matter.
He disagreed with the call to separate the office of the Minister of Justice from that of the Attorney-General.
When it was his turn, Dr Sakara said a CPP government would strengthen the security agencies and establish what he described as “people information and suggestion offices” to help deal with crime.
He said a CPP administration would also ensure that anyone who attained the age of 18 underwent one year military training, while strengthening the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) through training and retooling to help deal with corruption.
Dr Sakara said he would put in place the necessary measures to give full effect to the Whistleblowers Act.
He said his administration would also take steps to recover the perceived benefits of corruption because if people were left with the benefits of corruption, it would be an incentive for them to continue in the practice.
He stressed the need to separate the Ministry of Justice from the Attorney-General to empower the latter to independently prosecute cases of corruption, while strengthening CHRAJ to become more independent in handling cases of corruption.
Mr Ayariga said a PNC government would ensure the consolidation of the peace and security of the nation, adding that his administration would fight crime by modernising and re-equipping the security services.
He said there was the need for all Ghanaians to act and speak against corruption.
He said there was also the need to review some aspects of the Constitution to make it more effective in the fight against corruption.
The debate, which was originally scheduled to take place last Tuesday, had to be rescheduled for Wednesday, following the declaration of five days of national mourning by President Mahama for the late former Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama.
Much controversy had been generated ahead of the debate when the IEA announced the exclusion of Mr Ayariga from the contest, after he had made public comments to the effect that he would not participate in the event as a sign of respect to the late Alhaji Mahama, apart from the fact that he was suffering from malaria.
That decision to exclude Mr Ayariga was, however, rescinded after the organisers and the PNC presidential candidate had had a chat.
The Executive Director of the IEA, Mrs Jean Mensa, earlier in her welcoming remarks, had said the presidential debates sought to broaden the space of democracy in the country.
She said the objerctive was to make this year's campaign issue based
The Chairman of the IEA 2012 Presidential Debates Committee, Pastor Mensa Otabil, said every effort had been made to ensure fairness to all the four presidential candidates.
He said the committee received over 700 questions from the public out of which 40 were selected for the three debates.
Story by Kofi Yeboah
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