"We must restore integrity in public life. State coffers are not spoils for the party that wins an election, but resources for the country’s social and economic development."
The president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, made this pronouncement in an apparent resolve to battle out corruption in the country.
"I shall protect the public purse by insisting on value-for-money in all public transactions. Public service is just that - service and not an avenue for making money. Money is to be made in the private sector, not the public. Measures will be put in place to ensure this,” he added
Unbridled corruption within any country diminishes the integrity of a nation’s leadership. Unaccounted monies and unexplained debts became a detrimental issue in the past administration that has left President Nana Akufo-Addo and his government with loose ends to tie up. How does one go about cleaning up such an expensive mess?
The president’s take on corruption in his inaugural address resonates with measures outlined in the NPP manifesto for the elections to ensure that public funds are accounted for and spent with prudence.
As spelt out in the NPP manifesto, Nana Akufo-Addo is facing the matter of corruption head on. His anti-corruption policy is based on three pillars: institutional reform, legislative reform, and attitudinal change/public education.
Under this policy, an office of the special prosecutor, who will be independent of the executive, will investigate and prosecute certain categories of cases and allegations of corruption and other criminal wrongdoing.
President Nana Akufo-Addo is certainly leading a government that will hold its appointees accountable for their actions and the nation’s progress. Corruption kills. It is time for government to take responsibility for its own mistakes now, and for corrupt actions to get the treatment they deserve. Obviously, the new president has faith in his people to be able to handle the ramifications of their actions, good or bad.
The NPP manifesto also states that an Akufo-Addo government will empower the local private sector and pass legislation to require that at least 70% of all Government of Ghana, taxpayer-financed contracts and procurements are executed by local corporate entities.
President Nana Akufo-Addo again believes that by managing the economy well, confidence will also be restored in it. That is why he wants a shift from taxation to production.
Also, he is aware of the problems created when succeeding governments refuse or are unable to complete projects left over by predecessor governments. It can lead to loss of public finances and create obstacles for economic development.
Unfortunately, Ghana is littered with the scattered remains of skeletal, incomplete projects. This is where a wealth of Ghana cedis is locked up.
Fortunately, President Nana Akufo-Addo is able and willing to take on these affairs left unfinished from predecessor governments and put those stagnant cedis back into the system, where they can be used for the greater good of the nation.
The President has a plan of action for this mission. By establishing a National Asset Protection Project, a conduct of physical and financial audits will locate, identify and value each of the assets. They will be assessed by social, economic and financial values.
All these, we at the Daily Statesman believe will ensure the work of government produces the required benefits for the people.