<<Print>>

Ghana�s Ambassador to the Netherlands, Dr Tony Aidoo, has openly wondered whether it has to take the president to direct mandated state bodies to launch investigations into allegations of corrupt practices before action is taken. According to him, it is incumbent on security agencies to take it upon themselves to conduct such investigations without the president's say-so. �...our public servant must act, especially the security�why? Do we need the President to point out that there is a rot somewhere so go and clear it before you go?� he rhetorically asked. Dr Tony Aidoo, who was speaking to the issue of the GH�7.9 million inherent rot at the National Service Secretariat, was full of praise for Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) for delving into the matter to uncover the alleged fraud. �I feel very elated that the National Service Secretariat (NSS) is been investigated and 15 officials are more or less asked to step aside for the investigation to continue,� he said. The investigation by the BNI into the activities of the NSS showed that 22,612 non-existent national service persons in more than 100 districts across the country in July, had each been paid an allowance of GH�350 a month for a year amounting to GHC 7.9 million. Further revelations indicated that in an attempt to cover up the scam, officials of the NSS, including the Executive Director of the Scheme, Alhaji Imoro, offered bribes to the BNI officials. He, together with the other NSS officials indicted in the scandal have since been asked to step aside by the Governing Board of the Ghana National Service Scheme, who have promised to implement recommendations of the BNI, while investigations into the matter proceed. Dr. Tony Aidoo urged that investigations into the NSS rot does not become a nine-day wonder, and further called for the prosecution of all the perpetrators. Whiles lauding President Mahama for his commitment towards fighting corruption in the public sector, the former Deputy Minister for Defence in the erstwhile Rawlings Regime stressed that it is imperative government or public servants become dedicated to the cause of fighting graft. �It�s been going on for far too long, this corruption�the lesson that this government must also learn is this: that it�s about time due diligence is made of persons who are appointed or nominated by the President to act in some responsible positions,� he said on Radio Gold's "Alhaji and Alhaji" programme Saturday.