'Prosecutions shouldn't become a witch-hunt'

Front Page: Daily Graphic, June 12, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU), a London-based think tank, has cautioned that if not properly handled, the prosecution of officials under the Kufuor administration who are alleged to be corrupt can degenerate into “a witch hunt”.
In its June monthly review of Ghana, the EIU acknowledged increasing agitation among the public and some civil society organisations for the prosecution of officials of the previous administration who had been accused of corruption or misusing their office for private gain.
It, however, cautioned that the prosecution of that agenda could slip into a game of political point-scoring and heighten the tension between the two major parties in the country if it was made to follow the example set by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) when it was in power.
“There certainly does seem to be an element of political point-scoring involved. Indeed, the NPP set the example when it pushed for the prosecution of former NDC ministers of state, including the Minister of Finance and his deputy, when the NPP unseated the NDC to take power in 2000,” it said.
According to the EIU, “This is a major problem with the battle against corruption in Ghana, as well as across Africa, in that an anti-corruption crusade is all too often designed to persecute political enemies rather than being an attempt to make the lives of ordinary citizens better.”
The think tank also expressed concern over rising tribal tensions in northern Ghana, especially in respect of the Dagbon dispute.
It said although the two Royal gates, Abudu and Andani, had a history of antagonism that periodically escalated into violence, tension had been especially fraught since 2002 following the killing of Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II and 40 others in March 2002.
It said the Abudu Gate members had often been blamed for the deaths, with the then ruling NPP accused of “turning a blind eye to events, a feeling which has gained credence, given that the former government failed to bring the perpetrators to justice”.
The EIU said it was generally perceived that the Abudus were supported by the NPP, while the Andanis were backed by the NDC, and indicated that there appeared to be a growing feeling within the Andanis that they now had the upper hand since the NDC won the 2008 elections.
“How the NDC government handles the situation in Dagbon will have implications across Ghana, especially in the north, where there are numerous similar tribal disputes simmering,” it noted.
It also expressed concern over how the opposition NPP chose to approach the situation, as the early signs were that it would attempt to use tribal tensions as a means of attacking the government.
According to the EIU, the recent flare up in tribal tensions in the Dagbon area was made worse by the comments of Nana Akufo-Addo, the defeated NPP presidential candidate in the 2008 elections, when he held a press conference “castigating the NDC government and accusing it of inciting violence”.
It noted that Nana Akufo-Addo’s comments were criticised by most political analysts, especially “as many of the problems he highlighted were inherited by the NDC from the previous NPP government”.
It said among the critics of Nana Akufo-Addo was a senior member of the NPP, Professor Wayo Seini, who argued that the comments were inaccurate and portrayed an intention to drive the Andani faction away from the NPP when the party should be seeking to be more inclusive.
“Such comments from a senior NPP member hint at the divisions still affecting the party, with Nana Akufo-Addo working hard to maintain his influence. His provocative statement on the Dagbon issue probably reflects this, as the opposition leader attempts to keep himself in the limelight,” it added.
The EIU projected that similar bold statements could be expected in the future, with Nana Akufo-Addo also likely “to continue to attempt to distance himself from the previous NPP government under the former President, Mr John Kufuor, who still maintains some influence in the party and is not a strong supporter of Nana Akufo-Addo”.