How social media users reacted to ruling of $4m NCA scandal

An Accra High Court on May 12, 2020, sentenced three former government officials to prison after convicting them of willfully causing financial loss to the state.

Mixed reactions greeted the ruling of the court presided over by Justice Eric Kyei Baffour, on Twitter, after he sentenced the accused persons to a total of 16 years in jail for misappropriating an amount of US$4 million belonging to the NCA.

While many declared the judgement as a victory for Ghana, others advised public servants to treat their positions with all sacredness.

"The State is to seize assets worth $3m from the former NCA director general and his board chair. Victory for Ghana!" a Twitter user wrote.

"GHANA MATTERS: End of NCA trial, the outcome shows the beginning of the building block against CORRUPTION. Public Service must be seen as a personal sacrifice to State & Ghanaians and not a conduit to fleece state resources into private pockets. Assets seized very good beginning,” a user with the handle @august4551 added.

Meanwhile, the NCA case involved Eugene Baffoe-Bonnie, a former board chairman of the National Communication Authority (NCA), who was sentenced to six years imprisonment for his part in the $4m NCA scandal.

William Matthew Tetteh Tevie, a former Director-General of the NCA and Alhaji Salifu Mimina Osman, a former Deputy National Security Coordinator were each sentenced to five years imprisonment for also causing financial loss to the state.

Justice Eric Kyei Baffour, rendering his ruling on the case ordered the Attorney General to seize assets of the convicts.

However, George Derek Oppong, a businessman whose company operated as a local agent for the company said to have supplied the equipment was, however, acquitted and discharged by the court.

Read some more comments below:

I hope no one will shout witch-hunting today and the coming days. Ghana is not a milking cow. It’s now evidently clear @JDMahama and his intermediaries came to power just to create, loot & share. He will finally sell this country if he comes close to power.https://t.co/pnBGefePNC

— Samuel Bryan Buabeng (@Sambryanbuabeng) May 12, 2020

The State is to seize assets worth $3m from the former NCA director general and his board chair. Victory for Ghana!

— Rex (@RexOmarrr) May 12, 2020

Government officials in Ghana be doing the most with corruption but i didn't want to believe this particular $4m NCA scandal

— XJX (@Oh_Jeo) May 12, 2020

Ghana is sick. U wanna know why?
3 NCA bosses rob the state of an amount of $4m and they get 16yrs (6yrs 5yrs & 5yrs) respectively. Man dem barb man 4 town plus with a joint dem go process u go court nor den jail u 10 to 15yrs. After this tell me Ghana nor dey sick

— KUMASI ASANTE KOTOKO SC?????????? (@MrBusumuru) May 13, 2020

Julor, all of them.

Even after conviction, they are not labeled thieves or criminals. Chale, even suspects picked up in low-income communities are, at times, quickly slapped with these label.
This type of crime is also deliberately difficult to prosecute.https://t.co/kbetlsXLYI

— nii (@niikotei) May 12, 2020

We need more of that to fight corruption in the society.

— Kwarteng Roland (@KwartengRoland3) May 12, 2020