The Krontihene of Akyem Asuom, Nana Boadi Amponim Obodade III, has called for the prosecution and prolonged political rejection of individuals associated with the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration over alleged corruption and misappropriation of state funds.
According to the traditional leader, the administration of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and former Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia allowed widespread corruption and looting of public resources meant for national development.
Speaking during a sod-cutting ceremony for the construction of the 18.5-kilometre Subi-Asuom road in the Kwaebibirem Municipality, Nana Obodade III, who also serves as Board Chairman of the Ghana Commodity Exchange, urged authorities to prosecute former appointees from the national level down to regional and constituency executives.
The chief made the remarks while recounting the legacy of the late Nana Sir Ofori Atta I, whom he praised for his sacrifice and contributions toward education and national development.
He cited some of Ofori Atta’s accomplished children, including Kwesi Amoako-Atta and Jones Ofori-Atta, before referencing the lineage that produced former President Akufo-Addo.
According to him, the current generation within the family deviated from the values of sacrifice and patriotism demonstrated by their forebears.
“They slowly won their way into the hearts of Ghanaians until they became the government, and then they started the looting, the thievery and the robbery,” he alleged.
Nana Obodade III further accused members of the previous administration of laundering huge sums of money and misappropriating state resources, though he did not provide evidence for the claims.
He claimed that corruption scandals under the previous government became so frequent that many Ghanaians had become desensitized to them.
“Every day you heard of scandals and scandals. It became normal news to hear that someone had misappropriated millions of dollars,” he said.
The chief, however, praised President John Dramani Mahama and the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), stating that the current administration has restored discipline and accountability in public office.
According to him, President Mahama has created fear among appointees against engaging in corruption and has made the NDC more attractive to young people.
“He has made sure nobody will steal state money and go scot-free.
Ghanaians must praise President Mahama and the NDC for that,” he stated.
Drawing inspiration from the Bible, specifically Numbers 14, Nana Obodade III said Ghanaians should politically reject persons linked to the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration for what he described as acts of corruption and mismanagement.
“As it was in the Bible where the Israelites were sentenced to 40 years in the wilderness, Ghanaians must also sentence that generation of thieves, robbers and looters to 40 years in the political wilderness,” he declared.
“Anything associated with the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration should be kept in the political wilderness from the national executives to the constituency level.”
He added that the NPP must undergo reforms to allow what he described as “a new breed of selfless leaders” to emerge and serve the country.
By 1960news.com
