Don�t Exploit The Poor � Palmer-Buckle To Gov�t

The Metropolitan Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, Most Rev. Charles Palmer-Buckle has charged government to protect the poor and not exploit them. According to him, it is the responsibility of the State to defend the rights of the weak against the ills of society. �I think this where the State comes in and must be seen protecting the right and enforcing the responsibility of the human person and society. Defending and protecting the weak and the poor against the rapaciousness of the strong and the powerful. �The State is normally there or is �there to protect the poor and not to join in the exploitation by the rich and the powerful,� he said. Speaking at the final edition of Occupy Ghana�s public forum geared towards engaging the minds of Ghanaians to fight corruption ,the Archbishop also raised concerns about the increasing spate of corruption in the country. The Archbishop believes the state can live up to its duty if it fights corruption and ensure that the resources are fairly distributed so the poor can benefit. Many Ghanaians have raised concerns about government�s commitment to fight surging corrupt practices in the country. The former Commissioner of Commission on Human Rights and Adminstrative Justice(CHRAJ), Emile Short has expressed concerns about what he describes as the increasing spate of corruption in the country. He said corruption has reached frightening proportions. Occupy Ghana recently issued a 30 day ultimatum to the Auditor General to retrieve monies unlawfully taken by corrupt officials in the country. But in a rebuttal the Audit Service said it will not succumb to pressure from any individual or person in the discharge of its duties.