Govt To Sanction Officials Indicted By A-G's 2015 Report

The government will from next year sanction people who are indicted by the Auditor General's (AG�s) Report for various acts of financial malfeasance. The President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, who announced this at this year's Kloyosikplemi, an annual festival celebrated by the chiefs and people of Yilo-Krobo, stated that the move was part of his government's effort to reduce waste and mounting corruption in the system. Every year, the AG publishes a list of people whose actions or inaction have resulted in financial loss to the state. President Mahama said those who were indicted by the report would no longer go scot-free but would be sanctioned to show the government's intolerance of acts of corruption, and commitment to reduce it to zero. "We will show leadership in this direction, but corruption is a fight for all", he stated. He described the recent budget statement as a special one, coming in anticipation of a three-year programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). President Mahama acknowledged the rise in inflation and other unfavourable economic indicators but explained that the 2015 Budget was prepared to correct, for instance, the fiscal deficit, and to reduce inflation. He further explained that the budget was also prepared to rake in adequate revenue into the government�s coffers to meet the needs of, for instance, the Ghana School Feeding Programme and the District Assemblies Common Fund. Projects President Mahama announced that the Cabinet had approved the Bill for the construction of a university in the Eastern Region, and that provision had also been made for the project in the 2015 budget. He said, the government was also working to connect 110 communities in Yilo-Krobo to the national grid to foster socio-economic development in those areas. Similarly, he said, 28 communities, 15 in Upper Yilo and 13 in Upper Manya were to be provided with potable water by next year. President Mahama said the government was also preparing to roll out more road projects for the people in and around the Manya area. "I believe that you deserve it. The government is not doing you a favour because Yilo and Manya Krobo contribute significantly to this economy", he stated. President Mahama described the theme for the occasion ' Healthy Lifestyle for General Development' as apt, considering the myriads of diseases plaguing Ghanaians today. He said while some diseases such as Ebola and cholera were communicable, others were caused by lifestyle, poor eating habits, and lack of exercise which could easily be managed. Durbar At 11a.m. the durbar ground was already agog, but the numbers swelled after the arrival of President Mahama and his entourage at mid-day. The President was accompanied by the Chief of Staff, Mr Prosper Banni, the Minister of Finance, Mr Seth Terkper, who comes from the Manya area, Director of Communications at the Presidency, Mr Ben Dotsey Mallor, and the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Antwi Bosiako-Sekyere. Members of the delegation were welcomed with sounds from the giant Obunu drums. As the sound wore on, a delegation led by the acting President of the Yilo Krobo Traditional Council, Osayem Tetteh Odorkor Tuumeh, and other sub-chiefs exchanged pleasantries with the dignitaries. Dipo girls dressed in cloths tied around the waist and chest, with bundles of beads also on the waist danced slowly but gracefully to songs from a lone female voice. Voice of the people Osayem Tetteh Odorkor Tuumeh expressed concern over the lack of a hospital for the area. "The conspicuous absence of a district hospital for such an old and populous town like Somanya is a matter which can no longer be put on the waiting list", he stated. He said there was also the need to revisit the planned road works from Asitey through Adjikpo to join the Somanya-Koforidua road at Trom, and also, the Salosi road stretching from the old market through Salosi towards Asinersi village. Osayem Tuumeh, however, commended the government for what he described as " vast improvement in the road network especially between Somanya and Akuse Junction and other parallel roads in the same area". Background The Kloyosikplemi is celebrated in the second and third week of November, and it serves as a period of stock-taking for the people.