Let's Ascertain Veracity of A-G's Report - Chronicle

When the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was in opposition it heavily relied on the Auditor-General's (A-G) report to castigate the then ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and to canvass for support which eventually shot it into power December 2000.

In those days the NDC often disputed the AG's report while the opposition often went to the aid of the A-G.

Today the tide has turned and the A-G's department is charging the NPP government with financial mismanagement; the NPP big wigs are disputing the charge and the NDC is cashing in on the criticisms levelled against the government.

The NDC-controlled Ghana Palaver newspaper yesterday deduced from the latest A-G's report that the NPP government priority in 2001 was renovation of ministers' bungalows.

It cites the posting of ?15 billion into a Special Project Account, the alleged withdrawal of ?150 million by Hon. Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, then Chief of Staff, and the alleged mismanagement of ?162 million by Hon. Kwamena Bartels, former Minister of Works and Housing.

It continues that while renovation for the Vice President's house cost ?900 million, carpets bought for the homes of ministers alone cost ?917 million.

To the paper, the A-G's report nails the coffin of the government's "Zero Tolerance for Corruption" policy.

Mr. Ferdinand O. Ayim, Special Assistant to the Minister of Information, on the other hand, says the report indicates how accountable the NPP government is, having opened itself for auditing just one year of assumption of office as reported in the Accra Mail of yesterday.

The Chronicle views either positions taken by the two parties as opportunistic. While the NDC seems to be legitimately quoting from the report, the report itself seems discredited as the Auditor-General is said to know very little about the compilation of the report, according to a story filed in the Independent yesterday.

As for the NPP saying their supposed openness means zero tolerance for corruption, it is simply argumentative. We are of the view that the acceptability of the A-G's report on 2001, must be ascertained as soon as possible.

If the report was wrongly compiled or skewed by agents of the opposition to expose the government to ridicule and public fury, it must not only be rejected but the perpetrators must be sternly punished according to the dictates of the law.

If, on the other hand, the report, or sections thereof, is/are a true reflection of the gargantuan-looting of the national coffers as the picture is being portrayed, then the politicians and public servants found guilty must face the full rigours of the law.

The Chronicle considers it grossly inadequate for the Kufuor administration to stop at allowing itself to be audited: it must take the bolder step of implementing recommendations of the A-G and punishing the criminals.

And the opposition must be told that playing tricks with the report or maligning opponents by hiding behind the Auditor General's report can only give them temporary satisfaction.

When the truth becomes public, the backlash would deal them a devastating blow.