Ghanaians urged to remain calm over house cleaning exercise

Winneba (C/R), June 17, GNA - A Founder Member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Kofi Mintah has appealed to Ghanaians to remain calm over the government's house cleaning exercise.

"No one should panic as the security operatives embark on an exercise to identify office holders who are in possession of state funds and properties illegally to enable the law to take its course, he said in a statement to the Ghana News Agency at Winneba.

Mr Mintah reminded Ghanaians that when President John Evans Atta Mills was campaigning for votes, he promised the citizenry a "Better Ghana" and to be able to fulfill the promise he must first put the economy on track.

In doing so, Mr Mintah said, he must ensure that any state fund which was in the pocket of any citizen illegally was retrieved. "It is unfortunate that some people have regarded the exercise as persecution of political opponents", he said, adding that, the exercise would not end with politicians alone, it would trickle down to cover public and civil servants.

Mr Mintah, who is also the Chairman of the Central Regional Disciplinary Committee of the party, said President Mills' pledge to be a father of all Ghanaians did not mean that he would sit down unconcerned for a few of his children to eat and grow fat whilst others went hungry and looked pale and lean.

"The foundation of the Better Ghana must be laid on clean sheet and that the exercise was the first step of 'exorcising' the nation." He appealed to all well-meaning citizens to cooperate with the security operatives by offering them the necessary information which could make the exercise a success.

Mr. Mintah appealed to Ghanaians to learn a lesson from the on-going exercise by refraining from making too many demands on office holders since such demands corrupt them. People must also have courage to question their husbands, wives, fathers, mothers and close relatives who hold office when their lifestyles raised suspicion.

He further cautioned the party's office holders to be extra careful with whatever they do as the search light would be on them to find faults to discredit the government. 17 June 09