Politics should not overshadow corruption fight – Rawlings
Former President Jerry John Rawlings has enjoined Ghanaians not to allow partisan politics to influence their blind support for those who desire to combat the scourge of corruption in the country.
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In his view, the end result of the quest to clean up the society would be beneficial to all.
Addressing the 2017 Ahobaa Kese Festival of the chiefs and people of Abeadze-Dominase in the Mfantseman District in the Central Region last Saturday, the former President said for the corruption campaign to succeed, all Ghanaians had to support the agenda and be ready to live above reproach.
Mr Rawlings who was the Special Guest of Honour at the durbar to climax the festival said Ghanaians had for a long time paid lip service to their sense of responsibility and discipline.
State funds
He said the misappropriation of state funds was just a small aspect of corruption.
He said: “Corruption is as a result of the breakdown of the moral fabric of our society - The breakdown of cultural values of respect, humility, reverence for the aged, respect for the environment, hard work, patience, adherence to truth as well as the lack of integrity, probity and accountability.”
The anti-corruption crusade, the former President stated, “will only bear fruit if we ensure that institutions of state receive moral support not only from the government of the day but also from the majority of the populace.”
He added that, “We have to ensure that such institutions are truly independent as dictated by the constitution and well-resourced to play their roles without fear or favour.”
Traditional rulers
Mr Rawlings also urged traditional rulers to lead the charge for the restoration of our cultural values, stating that the deterioration of society had come about due to the lack of value for our culture.
He also tasked the National House of Chiefs to let its teeth bite by checking errant chiefs who had facilitated the sale of forestlands, supported the felling of trees and overlooked the plunder of the environment through illegal mining.
The former President called on the people of Abeadze to take family planning seriously so that they can cater adequately for their children.
The Paramount Chief of Abeadze, Daasebre Kwebu Ewusi VII, called on his people to support the ‘Planting for Food and Jobs policy’ of the government by providing lands so that the youth in the area could benefit economically.
He also called on parents to subscribe to the Free SHS policy by ensuring that their children completed their high school education to bring the knowlwedge to bear on their communities.