[ 2017-05-15 ]

Prosecute state looters – Methodist Bishop
The Kumasi Diocese of the Methodist Church-Ghana
has urged President Akufo-Addo to prosecute those
who have looted state funds, to deter others from
also doing so.

Right Rev Christopher Nyarko Andam, Kumasi
Methodist Diocesan Bishop, who made the call,
noted: “We urge the government to fully execute
its strength in fighting corruption, by
prosecuting state fund looters, irrespective of
their political persuasion, to send a clear
message that corruption cannot be tolerated
again.”

According to the church, over the years, Ghanaians
have complained about the loss of state resources
uncovered by the Auditor General, and yet, those
accused of these corrupt practices have not been
brought to justice.
The Methodist Minister further noted: “We
equally charge all state entities tasked to fight
against corruption to deal ruthlessly with all
offenders.”

Addressing the 56 Diocesan Synod at the Ebenezer
Methodist Church at Bantama in Kumasi, under the
theme: “Making disciples of all nations: The
Wesleyan tradition for church growth,” he
bemoaned that “Corruption continues to be a
major problem; it is estimated that Ghana losses
over GH¢4 billion annually, through
corruption.”

He also told the congregation: “As a developing
country like ours, whose total Projected Domestic
Revenue (PDR) for 2017 is GH¢43,430,000 – which
is the amount of money we are going to use to
develop our country this year – and yet,
annually, we lose four billion, which is about ten
times the PDR. This is clearly unacceptable.

“The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament has
started reviewing the 2015 Auditor General’s
report, and already, we are hearing stories of how
people auctioned government cars at a laughable
price of GH¢350,” he added.

“The Wesleyan Prelate charged President
Akufo-Addo not to serve his own interests, but
rather serve the interests of the entire
Ghanaians, as he steers the affairs of the
nation.”

He added: “You were elected into this leadership
position by the people of Ghana not to settle your
own interest, but to work in the interest of all
Ghanaians.”

Mincing no words, the Wesleyan Prelate lauded the
Flagstaff House, civil society, state
organisations and the media on their unflinching
crusade against the menace of illegal mining,
which is wrecking our farm lands and water
bodies.

He said: “Several reports have shown how
galamsey is fast-depleting our forest reserves,
destroying cocoa and other farm lands, and above
all, massively polluting our water bodies. You
have read, heard and seen how the Birim, Ankobra
and Tano among others, which were once very clean,
have become polluted, with disturbing levels of
turbidity, resulting in the shutdown of some water
treatment plants. There is also the destruction of
fishes in these water bodies, coupled with the
high cost of treatment of water for human
consumption.

Bishop Andam, former Synod Secretary of the Kumasi
Diocese, noted: “We know that ever since the
President started the crusade against illegal
mining, many excavators and other earth moving
equipment have been withdrawn from the galamsey
sites.”

In a direct message to Nana Akufo-Addo’s
government, the Kumasi Methodist Diocese Bishop
said: “We urge the government to ensure that
these illegal miners do not return to the sites,
as has happened in the past. We, particularly,
urge the President not to kowtow to the threats of
being voted out of power in the 2020 general
elections, but continue the good work you have
started, in the collective interest of Ghana.

“As a church, we pledge to use our pulpit to
educate our members on the need to end the
phenomena, and at the same time, we urge the
church to hasten the programme by formulating
measures to regulate small scale mining, and to
allow law-abiding citizens to take advantage of
the mineral resources of the country in a
sustainable way.”

He used the occasion to formally congratulate
Prof. Seth Opuni Asiamah, Ashanti Regional
Chairman of the Peace Council, on his induction
into office as the Lay Chairman for the Kumasi
Diocese. He was confirmed by the Conference at
Tarkwa, in the Western Region.

Source - thechronicle.com.gh

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