Naked Truth

Ghanaians have come of age in elections and have become the beacon in that field in Africa but one thing which our founding fathers' made it clear in the constitution and which is not working in present day Ghana is "Truth". No one party in the country has the right to pidgeon-hole the citizens and also is the only guardian of the Rep.of Ghana. No person irrespective of his or her contribution to the country is above the law and it is very stupid, a double standard and hypocritical to jump on anybody's high horse when politicians have problems with their personal lives and the mistakes they make against the country. The wheel of justice always works on their own timetable.

We therefore need a president who can expose and end the reckless conduct, corruption and unbridled greed as the country is for all citizens not just a chosen few. All the brouhaha sorrounding the appearance of Kwame Mpiani before BNI is the right thing the country must do to serve as a warning to all greedy politicians.This is not a witch hunt as NPP is saying and even if it is, withches need to be hunted.There is no gainsaying the fact that dirty politics is in the political DNA of Ghana politics but this Mpiani case is not one of it. Accountability is the issue at stake now.

What Mr. Mpiani did as the Chief of Staff whether good or bad has landed him at ground zero of a controversy in which his greed and love of country are being questioned. NPP had the right to do that when they came to power but they did not have the spine to prosecute all the people who duped the country just because they knew they were also going to wallow in the same swamp and get away with it. Corruption is really endemic in Ghana and this is the time for the government to lay down the rules for what is good and what is bad.

For causing "financial loss" to the country, Kwame Peprah, Selormey and Tsikata were all incacerated and so I see no reason why NPP top men are making a fuss about what is happening to Mr.Mpiani. The government has the right to let any of the security agencies question a citizen if it is something against the country. During the NPP time Rawlings and E.T.Mensah went before the BNI for countless hours. Auditor-General during NDC era Mr, Agyemang was arrested in the church and hauled before the security agencies for questioning. My million dollar question is who is Kwame Mpiani and is he bigger than those people I have mentioned earlier?.Why has there been so much brouhaha on this issue by NPP or are they trying to cover certain things?.The inability to accept or face constructive criticism and the reluctance to look in the mirror and see themselves as others do is causing all this nonsense in the country.

The golden rule "treat others as you wish to be treated has long been a guide for behaviour. However, there is also a cynical version of the rule, "whoever has the gold makes the rules".Both versions are followed to an extent in this country. Unfortunately those with great wealth and power see to it that the second version dominates. Members of both parties choose their party over the health of the nation and to this we should start to hold government officials accountable for any malfeasance commited during their tenure in office.

When Nana Konadu was dragged before the court in Accra, NDC supporters demonstrated against this which was very disgraceful and NPP told them to allow the process take it's cause. Now that the shoe is on the other foot the same NPP are crying wolf over this. Time has indeed come for us to re-think how our government works and how we should be active players in the process. Mr Mpiani was given over one week to appear before BNI and I think every respect was given to him. He went there with his three Lawyers. The lenght of the interview depended on what they wanted to know from him. BNI were not under any law to set a time table for the questioning.

Is NPP trying to tell Ghanaians that certain people are untouchable in the country?.The most egregious waste of money and resources I've ever seen was during the "Ghana @50" and since Mpiani was at the center of all these he has to answer for every pesewa which was spent. If NPP thought it was illegal for Mr. Mpiani to be questioned they could have sort the proper redress somewhere instead of congregating at the BNI premises and causing commotion which was very disgraceful. NDC were told to allow the process take it's cause and I see no reason why NPP who knew best are creating problems now.

The only advice I want to give to Ghanaians is that they should allow the security agencies to use the rules in the country as useful shock absorbers to question every single politician who is thought to have let the government down in any respect. We've had a string of prominent people behaving in ways that many others consider shameful. What sets us down this path is the greed that some people continue to display even as their world crumble around them and the blind support some people give to them. We must move from being only private citizens to become public citizens involved in public issues if we are to serve our nation. If we want to change things, it is up to us to lead politicians to do the right thing.

Seth Bonsu (Denver-USA)