Editorial - When Corruption Leads to Mass Suffering!

The cost of living is ballooning way beyond the means of most people living in this nation, declared independent of British colonial rule on March 6th, 1957. The Chronicle has not shied away from pointing out that the rhetoric of a 'Better Ghana' has failed to deliver our people from untold hardships.

In the rural areas especially, life is becoming short and brutish. A number of people, unable to face the hardships, are using unconventional means to avoid disgrace. Some are booking a date with their maker, through unconventional means.

Meanwhile, the Government of John Evans Atta Mills is continuing with life as usual. On our front page today, is a story which tells about the recent gas shortages. In the words of the workers' leadership at the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), some un-named party gurus, given the role of ensuring that there is constant supply of crude oil to the refinery, have found it convenient to connive with some business tycoons importing finished petroleum products for storage and distribution by the state refinery.

The end result is shortage of gas, with its ripple effect on the cost of living. What this means is that workers of the refinery just idle about, with the resultant dwindling incomes and irregular payments.

Though the workers have so far failed to name the personalities involved, The Chronicle believes in the workers' story. TOR has been prevented for quite some time now from carrying out its core business of refining crude oil.

From what we know, the refinery has not suffered any structural damage. All parts are functioning. But the human shortage of crude has been orchestrated to ensure that businessmen, who could influence officials, especially, with elections only one year away, get their own way at the expense of the state.

Just before Wikileaks got apologists of this administration hooked on what amounts to hearsays, Minister of Roads and Highways Joe Gidisu has been exposed over a gift of a BMW seven series car from Chinese contractors working on state contracts under his Ministry. Take it or leave it, the action or inaction of the Minister and his Ministry, is corruption on a massive scale.

Instead of showing the Minister the exit, the Presidency has reportedly ordered that the vehicle be given to the State Protocol to be used by foreign dignitaries. The Chronicle is beside itself with shame. Instead of returning the vehicle and calling the bribe givers to order, the state of Ghana has rather grabbed the vehicle for use. Any wonder that corruption is eating deep into the national fabric?

The Atta Mills administration signed a social contract with the people of Ghana to end corruption. For the past two years and a half that this administration has taken charge, corruption has been given pride of place in national affairs.

Letters are written on dodgy Castle letterheads without reference numbers, bearing the President's signature on issues which clearly cast doubts on the Head of State's integrity and honour. We are told, by documents bearing the stamp of the President himself, that private estate agents are erecting tents for our professional soldiers and policemen, who have erected their own tents since this nation became a nation-state.

There is no wonder that corruption is eating deep into the national fabric. There is no day that the various means of mass communication in Ghana do not carry news items about gigantic fraud and corruption in all parts of national endeavour.

At the last count, this nation has borrowed nearly US$10 billion in the name of the people, with very little to show for this huge deficit. Clearly, this administration is toying with the future of this nation. The President is on notice to ease the suffering of the people by changing course. It is not in the interest of J.E.A. Mills that his administration is neck-deep in corruption, while the people suffer.