Treat corruption like ‘death sentence’

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Former Head of Monitoring at the Forestry Commission, Charles Owusu, has waded into discussions regarding a recent survey conducted by the Center for Democratic Development (CDD) about the Akufo-Addo administration.

The new survey reveals that majority of Ghanaians lack confidence in President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to fight corruption.

Sixty-two (62) percent of 2,400 Ghanaians interviewed in the CDD post-election survey conducted between May 23 and June 3, 2021 indicate a lot of the citizens don’t trust the President to “protect the country’s financial resources and curb corruption in the next four years.”

“While Ghanaians are split (48% vs. 48%) on the government’s ability to ensure that rule of law is upheld in the next four years, majority [of them] are not confident in its ability to protect the country’s financial resources (53%) and curb corruption and official impunity (62%).”

Making his submissions on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ programme, Charles Owusu raised concerns about the corrupt practices not resolved by the incumbent administration.

To him, the government should be seen practically tackling corruption, but in reality, the government is not doing much as those who have to be punished are left off the hook.

He singled out the former National Coordinator of the defunct Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA), Abuga Pele who was sentenced to a six-year jail term but has been pardoned and freed by President Nana Akufo-Addo.

Mr. Pele, a former Member of Parliament for Chiana/Paga in the Upper East Region and a businessman, Philip Akpeena Assibit were both sentenced to a total of 18 years in prison on February 23, 2018 for their involvement in the GH¢4.1 million GYEEDA scandal.

Charles Owusu believed the Presidential pardon sends a wrong signal to the public.

He questioned why high-profile personalities found guilty of corruption are pardoned while ordinary Ghanaians who commit offences rot in prisons.

Speaking to host Nana Yaw Kesseh, Charles Owusu admonished the government to treat corruption with extreme seriousness and punishment saying, “corruption should be like death sentence. When we weigh corruption, it should be just as death sentence”.

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