A founding father of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, has accused ministers serving in the current Akufo-Addo administration of engaging in corruption and extravagant lifestyle. He indicated that government officials are living ostentatious lifestyles while the vast majority of the people wallow in poverty without any gainful employment.
Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe wondered why the President, whom he had known personally since the 1980s, had allowed these to happen in his government. Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe and President Akufo-Addo were among those who organized the ‘Kume Preko’ demonstration in 1995 against the Rawlings administration’s introduction of the Value Added Tax (VAT).
Speaking at an event in Accra on the topic ‘The State of Ghana’ on Wednesday, October 11, together with former Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Joseph Nunoo-Mensah, Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe said, “Ghana has been riddled with perceived corruption, political office holders are amassing unexplained wealth, tribalism, nepotism and parochial interest, especially under this regime of President Akufo-Addo.
“How do ministers hoard stashes of cash in foreign and local currencies in their homes, acquire properties in prime areas of Accra and other parts of the country, drive the most luxurious cars, and live extravagantly, and expect our youth who remain largely without any gainful employment to be satisfied? These are critical warning signs going to destroy the security of the state. We need to pay critical attention to this.
“Fellow countrymen, the Akufo-Addo I knew and had numerous dialogues and demonstrations with is not the Akufo-Addo who is now the president.” He added that corruption under the president’s administration gives him cause to worry that the country may return to the old days of arms. “No professional soldiers have the interest, the ammunition to run a government. The duty of the soldiers is to defend and protect the country as a whole.
“Ideally, we should be happy about the recent democracy we are enjoying. However, the experience of Brigadier General Nunoo Mensah and myself Captain Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe in the dark days of this dear country of ours gives us a cause to worry about. In fact, in the old days of arms, we didn’t sleep soundly at night.”
By: Laud Nartey
