ADVERTISEMENT

"I Will Deal With Corrupt Officials" - Prez Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has come out to say government will not spare any official who engages in corrupt practices. Any persons found in any form of corrupt practices will dealt with, he said.

The President warned that “We will go after them…no matter whose ox is gored…we shall continue to fight corruption and will not be deterred by anybody.” According President Mahama, letters have been sent to all ministries to implement the 2012 Auditor-General’s report. He said during last meeting of the Council of State at the Peduase Lodge in the Eastern Region.

He said as part of measures adopted to ensure transparency in the implementation, all cases of corruption would be investigated and all those who fell under the axe of the Auditor-General’s Report’s implementation that would be published would, among other sanctions, have their salaries withheld. President Mahama also mentioned that apart from directing the national service personnel to take their allowances through e-zwich, government will device other ways of stemming ghost names on government payrolls.

“2015 is going to be a pivotal year and am happy to have such an excellent Council that will offer me the power to ensure that Ghana becomes a model in West Africa and the entire continent,” he added. e commended the Council for the advice provided throughout the yearOn leveraging the economy, President Mahama said government’s engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will offer the best options to make it resilient in the face of internationa.l challenges.

He said investments in Ghanaian industries will reduce the import bills, hence government’s determination to support the poultry, pharmaceutical and agricultural production to make Ghana self-reliant and a net exporter of food in the coming years. Touching on the load shedding of electricity though Ghana is now producing gas, President Mahama explained that low water levels had compelled both the Akosombo and Bui Hydro dams to shut down a turbine each.

ADVERTISEMENT

He said the unreliable supply of gas from the West African Gas Pipeline had also become detrimental to Ghana’s electricity generation and gave the assurance that steps were underway to reverse the trend soon. Chairperson of the Council,Cecilia Johnson commended President Mahama for taking steps to fix the economy although there were still some rough edges to be smoothened.

She congratulated the President and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for a peaceful and successful National Delegates Congress over the weekend. She, however, cautioned government to be wary of the energy challenges, labour issues and perceived corruption as that could tarnish its reputation.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.com.gh

ADVERTISEMENT