�We Can�t Fight Corruption �With Political Equalisation And Vile Propaganda�

2012 flag-bearer of the Progressive People�s Party (PPP,) Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, has bemoaned what has become known in Ghanaian politics as �political equalisation� saying this attitude by politicians will hamper the fight against corruption in the country if not dealt with. �The politicians see any talk about corruption as an attempt to make the government unpopular and as a result lose the next election. ��is this what it is all about? Win another election or solve our problems? My question is: Where does President Mahama sit in this? The nation will not win the war against corruption through propaganda, �equalization� and mere finger pointing,� Dr. Nduom stated in a statement issued yesterday in Accra. He described political equalisation as a �useless� and �fruitless� attempt by some �unscrupulous politicians� whose sole interest is to amass wealth at the expense of the poor tax payer, hence their adoption of such unpatriotic approach towards national cause. �Every time someone takes the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration to task for not fighting corruption practically, vigorously and seriously, they fight back, not to prove that they are dealing with it, but try to cover the matter up by pointing to others as also being corrupt,� he stated. NDC Member of Parliament for Nanton and a deputy Information Minister, Murtala Muhammed, was cited as one of the politicians in the country who resorts to political equalisation to downplay issues of corruption in the NDC administration. �Some of their [NDC] leading members and communication team members including Member of Parliament (MP) for Nanton, Murtala Mohammed, take delight in taking to the airwaves in what has become known in Ghanaian politics as �equalisation� because they have been schooled apparently to toe this line,� he added. Expressing his displeasure about the situation, the 2012 PPP flag-bearer could not fathom why essentially, people would say politicians are all the same. According to him, the NDC was not forced to take power to administer the affairs of this country, adding �so no matter what happened or who did what before they got there, it is their responsibility to solve the problems we face as a nation, no curve, no bend.� �Who should we run to for protection against corruption if not the NDC and President Mahama?,� he queried. Recalling the anti-corruption crusade launched by the PPP and some stakeholders, Dr. Nduom expressed disappointment in the vile propaganda always used by the NDC to justify their actions. Statements such as �corruption is everywhere,� �even Kufuor said corruption is as old as Adam,� �every administration has engaged in corruption� to mention [but] a few, the PPP leader said, ought not to be used as a means to justify the rampant corruption in this country lately. �Is this something to be proud of? That the Mahama�s administration is not more corrupt than the previous ones? I know that the PPP�s crusade is not about this game of who is more corrupt.� Dr. Nduom therefore underscored the need for the country to deal with the corruption situation dispassionately, since according to him, the problem is killing the country. He said the PPP has �successfully and consciously� created the needed awareness to fight corruption in the country and argued that a failure to tackle the issue devoid of partisanship will not be in the interest of Ghanaians. Majority of Ghanaians will continue to live in filth and poverty; he said, adding �the problem will negatively affect all of us no matter which party, religion or ethnic group we belong to.� Recounting his exemplary leadership style he wanted to offer Ghanaians in 2012, he said by coming out publicly to declare his assets, making his income tax returns available from 1980-2011, all cancelled and valid passports known and above all, his heath status, was ample evidence that he is incorruptible, impeccable and somebody who has the courage to fight corruption. That, Dr. Nduom said, was not to �show off,� rather to make Ghanaians know he would offer them a transparent and accountable government. �It was not about being better than everyone else but to set an example of practical transparency.� �To me, accusations and counter accusation about who is corrupt and who is not do not help. �We need to take practical personal steps, each and every one of us [ought] to make this anti-corruption crusade work,� he added. To this end, Dr. Nduom called on Ghanaians to help stamp out corruption at workplaces and live to make the country achieve its national goals.