From King Amoah, Kumasi
The Caucus For Matured Democrats (CMD) a local pro democratic movement which champions the cause of democratic principles has cautioned against the notion of allowing individuals and state officials who have allegedly stolen government funds to bargain for installment payments.
CMD deems such practices as impractical and detrimental to the nation’s fight against corruption.
In an interview with the correspondent, CMD expressed disappointment over what it describes as a noticeable softening of the laws that target fraudsters and government officials who are accused of embezzlement.
According to the Movement, the legal framework once perceived as a formidable deterrent, has lost its biting edge and inadvertently creating an environment which is conducive to impunity.
Comrade Baba Iddrisu the Executive Secretary of CMD highlighted a worrying trend, observed that from the Akufo Addo administration to the present administration treatment of corrupt officials towards funds retrieval are not encouraging.
The Movement noted that despite numerous alleged corruption cases leveled against number of state officials Ghanaians have not felt impact from the state investigators in terms of the seriousness of the recovery of the stolen funds.
Comrade Iddrisu lamented the current situation where laws appear to have been softened to the advantage of state looters who have been walking free in the streets as innocent citizens.
The Movement’s fears regarding the integrity of the justice system, Comrade Baba Iddrisu said are heightened by the recent reports from the judiciary sector concerning an alleged attempt to allow a former state official accused of stealing millions of cedis from state coffers to repay the stolen money on an installment basis.
Does the country’s laws permit such practices Comrade Baba Iddrisu questioned.
He emphasized that Caucus For Matured Democrats beliefs that bargaining to pay stolen funds is not practicable in the country nor existing anywhere
He stressed that the laws must be allowed to take its own course to deal with the alleged criminals in the country.
CMD indicated that initiatives like Operation Retrieve All Stolen Funds would ultimately prove futile if the legal system fails to bite and effectively punish offenders.
The Movement pointed out to the slow movement of retrieving such huge funds squandered from the coffers of government in several high profile cases.
Comrade Iddrisu specifically cited the alleged financial scandal involving former Financial Minister Ken Ofori Atta, the historic misappropriation within the National Service Scheme, Chairman Wontumi’s alleged series of mining deals, and the former Minister of Sanitation, Cecelia Abena Dapaah’s multi million dollar scandal.
The Caucus further cautioned against a superficial approach to national financial recovery, stating that we pretend to be saving the state to be on its financial feet whereas Ghanaians don’t see any positive signs of recovering the stolen funds and government properties.
Ken Ofori-Atta and other financial culprits, CMD asked whether they are above the law.
In an appeal for swift presidential intervention the Caucus For Matured Democrat expressed its conviction that President John Dramani Mahama would decisively put measures in place to ensure the timely recovery of the stolen funds.
CMD’s unequivocal stance is a call for an uncompromising approach to corruption: genuine justice but not negotiable settlements is the only path to safeguard the national assets and restoring public faith in governance.
The movement insists that the full force of the law must be brought to bear on all alleged state looters without exception or compromise.
