Mr Emmanuel Azubila Salam, Executive Secretary of ADAM-GH, speaking on Ahotor FM’s Adekyee Mu Nsem discussion in Accra, has questioned claims by lawyer Atta Akyea that the Adu Boahen corruption case should not be treated as a national issue.
Mr Azubila argued that a corruption case involving a former National Security Intelligence Bureau boss is, by its very nature, a matter of national importance and should be treated with the seriousness it deserves.
“How can a corruption case not be a national issue? A case involving the National Security Intelligence Bureau boss—how can we say this is not a national matter?” he questioned.
He further asked how many people have died in hospitals because there were no beds available and how many pregnant women have lost their babies because there were no doctors available to attend to them.
According to him, money meant for the National Security Intelligence Bureau is supposed to be used to investigate people and activities that seek to sabotage the nation or undermine its progress. He said if people within such institutions instead engage in corruption, it creates a serious problem for the country.
“Corruption should not come from the Attorney General’s office. It should not come from National Security. It should not come from the Special Prosecutor’s Office, EOCO, or any other investigative agency,” he said.
He stressed that these institutions are supposed to fight corruption, investigate wrongdoing and protect the public interest.
Mr Azubila said when people within such institutions are accused of corruption, the matter must be treated seriously, particularly because of the sensitive nature of the institutions involved.
He also argued that high-profile corruption cases should receive the urgency they deserve, stressing that the court vacation should not be used as a reason to treat matters of national importance as trivial.
According to him, the court vacation is primarily a period for judges, but judges can recognize the importance of high-profile cases and take the necessary steps to ensure that such matters receive appropriate attention.
Mr Azubila said Ghanaians should not allow serious corruption cases involving public funds and national security institutions to be described as trivial matters.
“We cannot have a situation where people are dying because hospitals lack beds and pregnant women are losing their babies because of inadequate medical attention, while public funds meant to protect the nation are allegedly being misappropriated,” he said.
He maintained that such cases are matters of national urgency and must be treated with the seriousness they deserve.
Story by Stephen Kwaku Owusu Mintah/Ahotoronline/Accra