The Liberal Youth Association a pressure group in a press release dated 5th April ,2017 has asked the parliament of Ghana to purge itself from bribery allegations. In their statement, the Joe Ghartey Committee has invited fresh attacks from the public on the national house of legislation, with some sect describing it as a den of corruption.
The Liberal Youth Association are alarmed by the uncontrollable partisanship positions expressed by persons who are clothed with oversight responsibilities of our governance structure, and thus they categorically state that parliament do not need partisan approach in dealing with matters of this nature.
Below is the full press release by the group
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
PARLIAMENT MUST PURGE ITSELF FROM BRIBERY ALLEGATIONS
The last few weeks have been quite tough for some members of parliament and the entirety of the august house over the bribery scandal. The unfolding bribery padding scandal rocking the House of Representatives has torn the legislative chamber apart and into a boxing arena to chagrin of the citizenry.
The report of the Joe Ghartey Committee has invited fresh attacks from the public on the national house of legislation, with some sect describing it as a den of corruption. We in Liberal Youth Association are alarmed by the uncontrollable partisanship positions expressed by persons who are clothed with oversight responsibilities of our governance structure, and thus want to categorically state that we do not need partisan approach in dealing with matters of this nature.
The scandal, in the opinion of Liberal Youth Association, has given fillip to a consistent claim by some concerned Ghanaians, that some members of the legislative arm of government are corrupt and are not serving the interest of the masses. For us, it is such a huge issue, because parliament, as the holder of legislative power and as part of implementing its competencies, undertakes the function of oversight over the work of the Government; by implementing this function, it is in a unique position to examine the responsibility of holders of executive power, as well as the why they manage policies and spend funds, the fundamental values of our society, as a democratic system, are based on respect for human and minority rights and freedoms of all citizens, and the principles of division of power and rule of law.
We urgently call on Speaker, Prof. Rev. Mike Ocquaye and leadership of the house, to immediately intervene by demystifying the work of parliament, particularly the committee works of the house. We are of the strong opinion that making parliamentary committees works public either by making it accessible either by internet, direct access or by traditional media would allay public fears and serve as a means for constituents to track the works/performance of their representative(s).
We bemoan the partisan approach adopted by the political class and urge all those political extremists to stop the one sidedness and think about the collective interest of mother Ghana. In another shocking move by members of parliament; where they went on rampage and verbally assaulted themselves under camera; we are still wondering why the speaker of parliament is mute over that embarrassing incident where some members of parliament were captured on clips throwing naked insults at each other.
We think that those at high places playing with the emotions of the innocent Ghanaian should have a rethink; they should not destroy what they cannot create. For us as a group, we think that the cabal of parliament today is worse than any cabal that anybody may find anywhere in our national governance system at any time. Some members of parliament pay themselves allowances for staff and offices they do not have or maintain. Most of them (MPs) conduct themselves and believe that they are not answerable to anybody.
They are blatant in their misbehavior, cavalier in their misconduct and arrogant in the misuse of parliamentary immunity as a shield against reprisals for their irresponsible acts of malfeasance and/or outright banditry. We are wondering why the legislative arm of government had chosen not to be transparent with some of their activities. Liberal Youth Association wishes to condemn roundly the gang up against the whistleblower (Hon. Mahama Ayariga), particularly when he attempted to put out his concerns about the committee’s report on the floor of the house. We are appealing to the leadership of parliament to intervene and roll out policies and programs that would purge the house of corruption because Ghana cannot continue to live with the impunity and corruption of parliament. Yes!, we believe that something can and should be done.
The speaker should ride on the crest of the popularity of what happened in the judiciary to set up a highly technical team of incorruptible investigators to look into the so-called bribery claims of the past and the present and bring culprits to book. Parliament claimed they have oversight responsibility for their corruption and misdemeanor in a craze ‘parliament is master of its rules’.
It is like asking a thief to watch over himself. Knowing the role of the Executive, the Judiciary and the Parliament in nation building and in combating corruption globally cannot be over-emphasized. As a country, we are progressively being destroyed by a weapon of mass destruction in the guise of “corruption”. Notwithstanding the putting in place of legal and institutional framework towards tackling corruption in, the problem remains pervasive. Corruption in Ghana is ubiquitous in all its ramification and manifestation, petty as well as grand, in business transaction so also in the country’s political life (including during elections), in the private sector of the economy, public life and throughout government bureaucracy.
Corruption’s toll on economic growth, poverty and job creation cannot ordinarily be overemphasized and neither can the extent to which it has eroded the confidence of Ghanaians in the state institution in general be overstated. Corruption in Ghana is no more than one, the many daunting challenges the country is facing and it lays at the very heart of its economic and political troubles.
At every important level therefore, Ghana political economy remains driven primarily by the logic of clientelism and patronage. To this extent, Liberal Youth Association is calling on all to put aside their political coloration in handling matters of this nature.
Nii Noi Nortey (President)
Prince Kissi Yeboah (Media Liason Officer)
Tel.: +233-560-111111.
Email: liberalyouthassociationgh@gmail.com
Daniel Koranteng Kwagyiri|ahotoronline.com|Ghana
