Finish Hard CJ!

We are told that after the hue and cry from a cross section of the Ghanaian populace over the indiscretion of Madam Loreta Lamptey, Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, CHRAJ to use state resources anyhow she wanted, plus the receipt of a number of petitions from citizens of Ghana, the President has with dispatch tasked the Office of her ladyship the Chief Justice to look into the matter and take the most appropriate action.

While commending the President for living up to his constitutional dictate, we wish to remind the President of similar acts of indiscretion and impunity in the public domain that require expedited action. It does appear that in Ghana, the public purse is at the mercy of public office holders anytime they assume office.

The onus now rests with the Chief Justice to act with speed and good-faith to bring the matter to rest. We trust that her ladyship appreciates the enormity of the task before her and how corruption and abuse of public office has derailed our effort at a forward march as a nation. Surely, she shall not fail her office and the nation at large. We pray for the guidance of the good Lord from whom justice emanates to guide and guard her in this delicate matter.

Lately, no day passes without the hearing of corruption in quarters of government circles and even in private corporations. It has reached a height where the Chief Justice has had cause to express worry over the trend and bemoan the unfortunate situation of all public persons standing the risk of getting accused. “We are all at risk of labelling”. She cried out while swearing in new magistrates to man our magistrate courts.

Ghana’s first president, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah once offered a prescription to corruption. He said in interview in the United States, “the Best anti-dote to corruption is to build a strong public opinion against it”. In other words, when we expose corruption and the perpetrators of corrupt deeds to the natural medicines of shame and abhorrence, those who engage in it would find no peace in continuing the negative practice. They would stop and desist from any further practice. It would also serve as a deterrent to all others who may want to follow in that path of nation wrecking.

The talk of Woyome, Watervaile, Isofoton, GYEEDA, SADA, SUBAH, just to mention a few of them always leaves sour grapes in the mouth of many a Ghanaian as to the commitment of this government to fight corruption to the last. The unfolding evidence at the Brazil 2014 Presidential Commission and case of Asibit in the court go a way to show how careless and reckless we are when it comes to public funds. One question that always come to mind anytime you hear some of the testimonies simply is; WOULD YOU HAVE DONE THAT IF THE MONEY CAME FROM PRIVATE POCKET?