KEY POINTS
- NPP had eight years to prosecute cases but failed.
- Mahama is committed to fighting corruption fairly and transparently.
- Attorney general will soon explain why prosecutions were discontinued.
Shamima Muslim, the deputy presidential spokesperson, has defended President John Mahama against criticism about the suspension of some prosecutions, claiming that the NPP failed to achieve convictions during its eight years in office.
Muslim defends Mahama over discontinued prosecutions
Muslim asked why Mahama’s administration is suddenly being held accountable when the NPP has the time and legal capacity to pursue these matters in an interview with Joy News on Monday, February 10 on PM Express.
The New Patriotic Party had to prosecute some of these charges for eight good years. They received excellent representation in our courts for eight years,” she remarked.
She also brought up worries about former President Nana Akufo-Addo’s alleged court-packing.
“Pardon me, but we are all aware of the opinions regarding former President Nana Akufo-Addo’s court packing and, occasionally, what people refer to as procured outcomes from our courts,” she remarked.
“They would have secured prosecutions and judgments, just as they did in previous tenures, and jailed those individuals if they had any case at all against these political opponents who were being persecuted through the instrument of our law court,” she said.
Mahama’s firm stance against corruption and state asset acquisitions
According to Myjoyonline, she reiterated that Mahama is dedicated to making sure justice is served in a fair and effective manner and has no interest in hiding wrongdoing within his administration.
She remarked, “We should be confident that he will not cover up any member of his administration.” “He has declared that we will also bring Operation Prevent All Loots (OPAL) on stream as we start operationalizing ORAL findings in accordance with Ghana’s Attorney General Dominic Ayine’s legal mandate.”
As the only recent president to specifically declare in his platform that no government official will be permitted to participate in state capture or the unlawful acquisition of state assets.
“He’s made it black and white.” “There must be an end to lamentations, so he is determined to do it,” she remarked. “We cannot keep complaining about the issues undermining our democratic gains while demonstrating a lack of leadership commitment.”
She also denounced as immoral and unethical the practice of political figures purchasing state property.
“How in the world can we, with any sense of morality, buy real estate that we know is worth more—sometimes 10 times more—on the open market than what we utilize our political positions to buy those same assets for? That cannot be justified by anyone,” she stated.
