Last time I was complaining bitterly about happenings in our Nation, Ghana. The rate at which things are turning sore in Ghana is terrible.
I was so bitter and passionate that my colleagues told me to beware of BP. I was so hurt by revelations in Dr. Bawumia’s lecture at the Central University. I thought they were the worse things to happen to a nation which had one of the best economic growths in the world barely 6 years ago.
Just as I was sampling the headlines on myjoyonline.com I came across an article by the Bongo Boy (Manasseh Azure) which I quickly posted to my bloc.
During the week I was reflecting on Manasseh’s article and this came to my head “If Ghana was America, Nobody Will be Spared”. I am providing an extract for you my few but loyal followers.
Jesse Jackson Jnr., 48, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for looting his campaign fund of $750,000. He pleaded guilty to stealing $750,000 from his campaign from 2005 to 2012 to pay for luxury items, vacations, furs, celebrity memorabilia etc. In addition to prison time, he was ordered to pay $750,000 in restitution.
Jackson Jr.’s wife, Sandi, a former Chicago alderman, was convicted on a tax violation related to her misuse of campaign funds. She was sentenced to a 12-month prison term, with her sentence to be served after her husband’s because they have children, ages 13 and 10.
This is a man who took money from what he himself has raised. In Ghana there are no records of funds raised by political parties. I wonder how many people will follow campaign trails if this law was in Ghana. People follow because there is free money to be shared.
Still in America, a former governor of Virginia, Bob McDonnell, was convicted for corruption. He and his wife were charged with receiving $177,000 (Please note the amount) in loans and gifts from Williams, the chief executive of Star Scientific Inc, in exchange for promoting his company’s main product, the anti-inflammatory Anatabloc.
Does kick back ring a bell, in Ghana it’s alleged that 10% of all contracts are collected to fund the party in government. All party financiers are either rewarded with contracts at inflated prices or given judgment debts. GYEEDA, SUBAH, RLG, ASUNTABA, GIG, Mr. Woyome etc. Do you remember our own Nana Kwame Ampadu the Musician became a contractor at a point in time? Awarding contracts to family and friends is very rife in Ghana.
The Gifts Mr. McDonnell received included a $6,500 Rolex watch. Williams was said to have provided a $50,000 loan and a $15,000 “gift” to cover wedding expenses for McDonnell’s daughter. He also gave a $70,000 loan to a corporation that the governor and his sister use to manage.
Name any public officer who has not received gift(s). Contractors are trying to catch the eyes of ministers by giving them bribes to win contracts over their competitors. Once I head a rumour that some ministers are given weekend allowance by contractors. So if Mr. McDonnell was in Ghana it will be normal, but in the US, he was sentenced two years while his wife got a year’s jail term.
If these things USA call corruption was in Ghana I can bet politics will be the most unattractive job in Ghana. Use your money to run elections, win, get into position and get insulted by adults and babies with sharp and blunt teeth and get nothing?
But this is not funny our next leaders should take a cue from here. The perception is politics is the surest way to get ahead of poverty. I need to be proved wrong.
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