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Attivor's resignation commendable but... - Political analyst

The Transport Minister on Wednesday announced that she was resigning from her position following her Ministry’s decision to spend GHC 3.6 million re-branding of 116 Bus Rapid Transit Buses (BRT).

 

Political analyst, Dr. Eric Oduro Osai has applauded Transport Minister, Dzifa Attivor for resigning over the GHC 3.6 million bus re-branding scandal.

He remarked that although her actions are honourable, she failed to accord respect to the people of Ghana.

Speaking on Radio Ghana’s Behind the News programme, Mr. Osai asked, “I think that if she has indeed tended in her resignation, what prevented her from making a copy of the resignation available to the people of Ghana?

“The letter that is circulating which I have cited was written by her personal assistant and he signed it in his name. For me, I have a problem with that. Again, she could have waited for the appointing authority to respond…that notwithstanding, I want to congratulate her for taking that decision because it is rarely taken by public officials,” he added.

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The Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah ordered an investigation into the matter. On Wednesday, the Attorney General submitted her findings.

According to the political analyst, the government should not capitalize on the Minister’s resignation by failing to pursue the case to its logical conclusion.

“This should not end the matter. Once she has resigned, I think she has given the government an opportunity to do an in-depth investigation into the matter,” he said.

Sanction Chief Directors

Mr. Osai again suggested that since Ministers are advised by directors within their Ministries, the chief directors working in the Transport Ministry should be held accountable too.

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“I don’t think she took the decision alone. Though she is ultimately responsible for the activities of that particular Ministry, she was definitely advised by a chief director, she was definitely advised by the director of finance, she was definitely advised by the internal manager. What is happening to these public officers who advised the Minister to take one decision or the other?”

He was of the view that before Mrs Attivor tended in her resignation, “she should have fired them because they advised her and if their advice tends to be wrong, before she resigned, she should have fired them.”

Mr. Osai bemoaned the situation whereby when corruption occurs; the blame is only laid at the doorstep of politicians.

“Most at times, when such corrupts practices occur, we lay the blame squarely on politicians. The chief director of that Ministry shouldn’t be sitting there by now. The Director of finance and the auditors who reviewed this document before making the recommendation for payment to be effected should not be sitting there,” he said.

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