Mahama vows to hold appointees accountable when elected

The National Democratic Congress' flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, vowed to take up the the fight against corruption by holding people in authority accountable during their tenure rather than attacking political opponents after they leave office.

At a media event in the Volta Region, Mr Mahama emphasized the need of regime accountability as the true test of a government's commitment to combating corruption.

"We must get a handle on the issue of corruption, and the real test is not post-regime accountability; it is regime accountability. It is often easy to hound your political opponents when they leave office and hold them accountable, but the real test of the fight against corruption is to hold your own persons accountable."

“The first is to avoid political interference with the anti-corruption institutions and allow them unfettered access to do their duties and let the process take its course.

“If we’re able to do that, then I think that it will be a better way of handling corruption,” he said.

“Our people demand that we [political actors] be more accountable than we’ve previously been. I think this is the last opportunity for the political elites to turn the situation around. We’ve seen what is happening in other African countries.

"The youth of Africa are tired of the waste, the corruption, the lack of opportunities, and lack of jobs. And so if democracy must survive then we need to do something more drastic. The next government is not going to have business as usual,” he said.

The flagbearer stressed that Ghanaians have been patient and are waiting to make a difference with the impending election.

However, he warned that if a new government wins power and repeats the mistakes of the previous administration, the results could be dire.

“But if that change happens and a new government comes and thinks it can do the same things that the NPP is doing currently, I am afraid, something will give,” he warned.

Source: Lead News Online