President Should Stay Committed To Uproot Corruption- Anglican Bishop

Bishop Dr Daniel Sylvanus Mensah Torto, Anglican Bishop of Accra, has urged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo –Addo, to remain committed to the fight against corruption, since the practice had been the bane of successive governments.

Ghana, he noted was one of the prominent countries in Africa to gain independence, but through the greed and selfishness of individuals, who were at the helm of affairs the resources of the nation, were plundered leaving the people in chaos and economic hardships.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra on Ghana@60 Bishop Torto asked President Akufo-Addo to crack the whip so that the resources of the nation could be used judiciously to facilitate and accelerate national development.

“As Ghanaians we should not be concerned about individual interests alone. The corporate interest should also be paramount. Unfortunately the things that should have been done in the past, were left undone, through greed and selfish considerations,” he said.

Bishop Torto called on Ghanaians to change their attitude towards national building so that the country could make progress like her contemporaries like Malaysia and Singapore.

He said development was a collective responsibility and not limited to the central government alone.
He said despite the political instability the nation suffered since independence, the relative stability the Fourth Republic offered hope for development.

The Anglican Bishop asked the government to implement to the latter whatever was captured in the “Asempa” budget, which gave a lot of encouragement to the people.

“The one district one factory, free Senior High School programme and the removal of the so called nuisance taxes, among others should be carried through by the Executive.

“Ghana needs a government that will be sincere and honest with Ghanaians and discharge their duties well devoid of avarice.

“Ghanaians want a government that will have the political will to implement policies and programmes that are tough but necessary to facilitate massive development.”

Bishop Torto said as President Akufo-Addo was committed to promoting the private sector, he should also inculcate in the citizenry the culture of paying taxes by widening the net and enforce strict collection.

He said God had been faithful to Ghana and it was about time “we look up to Him for guidance and protection to carry on as nation@ 60”.