‘Mills Should Apologise'

Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak A SOCIOLOGY lecturer at Cape Coast University, Prof D.K Agyeman, has descended heavily on President J.E .A Mills, tasking him to apologize to Ghanaians for his recent comments on the Muntaka saga. The Sociology professor opined that the one-time law teacher at the country’s premier university’s comments on the infamous Muntaka saga were not only uncomplimentary but a subtle endorsement of wrongdoing. Speaking in an interview with Kessben Fm in Kumasi, Prof Agyeman noted that President Mills humiliated himself and the country with those unsavoury comments. “Is the President telling us that those criminals languishing in jail should be pardoned, because of the fact that they are not the only criminals in the country?” Prof Agyeman asked rhetorically. Noting that such comments should not come from a President who is the number one citizen of the country, he enjoined President Mills to apologize to Ghanaians and also make a commitment that he would never utter such comments again. Prof Agyeman indicated that the President’s failure to apologize would serve as a bad precedence that would haunt him and the nation for the rest of the years. In an encounter with a section of the media at the Osu Castle Gardens on Thursday, as part of activities marking his one year anniversary as number one gentleman of the country, the tax law professor strongly defended Hon Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak. President Mills mapped out a strong defence when he was asked whether he was satisfied with the way he handled the catalogue of allegations leveled against the toppled Minister of Youth and Sports. Hon Muntaka was shown the exit when his chief director and principal accountant, Anthony Ampong and Adim Odoom respectively, leveled a series of allegations against him. Among the incriminating allegations were that the Asawase National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) used state funds to buy items such as pampers and ‘chichinga’ for his home consumption and also fly his girlfriend to Germany and Cote d’Ivoire for pleasure. Responding to the question, President Mils wondered whether Hon Muntaka was the first minister to have traveled abroad with his girlfriend. “Are we saying that this is the first time ministers of state have traveled abroad with their girlfriends? Is this the first time ministers of state have infringed on the law, have spent state money on themselves,” President yelled. Outlandishly, President Mills showered tones of praises on the deposed minister for his courage to take the path of resignation when his act of indiscretion was investigated by the National Security apparatus. Contending that the act committed by Hon Muntaka did not by any measure constitute corruption, but rather indiscretion, President Mills said those who made the allegation of financial malfeasance could not substantiate their claims. President Mills therefore stated that Hon Muntaka deserves commendation from Ghanaians instead of condemnation for the reason that the Asawase legislator was bold to resign his position in the heat of his saga. He insisted that the act committed by the ousted Minister of Youth and Sports amounted to indiscretion but not corruption as suggested by a section of the populace. Meanwhile, the head of research at the Asawase constituency office of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Alhaji Ahmed Tahiru, has told DAILY GUIDE in an interview that President Mills got it wrong with his definition of corruption. Quoting the Cambridge international dictionary, Alhaji Tahiru stipulated that corruption is any act which amounts to dishonesty and using your office or power to your advantage. He said all indication testifies that Hon Muntaka committed an act of corruption because he used his office and power to his own advantage in connection with the purchase of ‘chinchinga’ and pampers and also the flying of his girlfriend to Germany and Cote d’Ivoire. Insisting that President Mills does not want to tell the truth, Alhaji Tahiru noted that the use of false documents by Hon Muntaka to secure visa for his lady friend alone amounted to corruption which is liable to prosecution. From Morgan Owusu, Kumasi/Daily Guide