IS GHANA’S ENERGY SECTOR CORRUPTION, A PROOF OF POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS HYPOCRISY?
By Benjamin Pulle Niriwa,
20.12.2020
INTRODUCTION
Hypocrisy:
“Stimulating qualities in false pretense of being holy or virtuous”
A
fetish priest, Kwaku Bonsam, adds more meaning to hypocrisy, by exposing some
hypocrite Pastors who go to his shrine
One
of the major consequences of politicizing our power problems
What Is Corruption?
Corruption
is defined as: “The abuse of public office for private gain – covers a wide
range of behavior, from bribery to theft of public funds”
Are the Evidence of Corruptions in
our Energy Sector?
The
two major political parties in Ghana have always accused each other of
corruption scandals
Yet
corruption in our energy sector is a known blame game that cannot be denied
This
makes such behaviors, excuse me to say, a case of hypocrisy as revealed by an
Ambassador
The
most popular corruption allegations of the energy sector have been that of “The
Ameri Novation Deal Scandal”
This
suspicion is confirmed when the Energy Ministry admits that the President is
“Not Misled” as claimed
What
makes the AMERI deal a very special issue of interest is that, the NPP whilst
in opposition, claimed that it was a “Sendoff loot’ by the NDC government” at
that time
In
the PDS Fraudulent Scandal, the NDC in a press conference revealed how Ghanaians
have lost approximately US$2 billion to President Akufo-Addo’s
“Family-and-friends” government
Other Corruption Related Cases that
We Must Understand: The Corruption Mentality
Corruption
is not only about collecting bribes or favoring others
Biblical
Understanding of Corruption: In 1
Corinthians., (15:33-34. 1611. KJV); corruption is not only receiving or giving
bribes, any sins and discriminatory behaviors or “manners” are also
corruptions. Genesis, (6:11-12. 1611. KJV) reveals that God decided to destroy
the world because of violence and sins, as a world that was corrupt! Islam
agrees with the above
How the Politicization of NDC’s Energy
Sector Achievements Exposes Corruption: The achievements in
the energy sector during the NDC’s administration, especially between 2012 -2016 (ECG a., 2018; Kusi, 2017; Eshun, & Amoako-Tuffour,
2016; ECG b., 2015; ECG., 2014), is the greatest of the 4th
Republic. The NDC inherited 1,935.00MW in 2009 and the time they left office in
2016, they have doubled that to 4,132.60MW
Cross
checking with the report of the Energy Commission of Ghana as at April, 2016,
they gave the figure for the total installation electricity generation by 31st
December, 2015 as “3,174MW”
Yet,
these have always been politicized; though corruption can negatively affect
achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) in the country
He
also added that Former President Mahama has: “Bequeathed over 230 million Cedis
in the ESLA account to President Akufo-Addo in 2017”
Her
ability to sustainably exports electrical power to her sister nations were also
strategically planned and strengthened, giving her these export potentials:
“Burkina Faso 150MW by 2019; Mali 150MW by 2021; Togo and Benin 200MW by 2020”
He
is further exposed for inaugurating “A 225KV transmission line” started by
Former President Mahama for which funding has already been provided for, and
claims that his government is the one that ended the energy crisis in Ghana and
now exports electricity. Though an NPP Former Energy Minister also claims
likewise, adding that: “Failure to Buy Fuel Caused ‘Dumsor’ Under NDC”
Over
depending on the West Africa’s Gas Pipeline for irregular supply of fuel
How Appointment and Resignation of
Former Special Prosecutor Exposes Corruption: Our Dearest,
His Excellency President Akufo-Addo, has visionary policies
The
president asking the Former Special Prosecutor to insert the Finance Minister’s
Report into his Corruption Assessment; and also, to hold on with assessing the
deal for another week
Attacks
on the Former Special Prosecutor based his tribal background
If
the NPP party is not involved in any corruption, why was he worried that: “Amidu’s
Appointment is a Looming Disaster! He will soon come after the very party that
appointed him”?
Please,
notice this: “Martin Amidu is a wounded lion who was going to turn his guns at
us…”
How Current Dumsor Exposes Political
Mentality Corruption: Both major political parties in the
country are still politicizing this current energy problem! The current
irregular electrical power supply is a reality
When
the light goes off and comes on again in a particularly government, it called
“Dumsor”, why is the same light that is going off and coming on not “Dumsor”? So,
“All ‘dumsor’ be ‘dumsor’; fix the problem”
Using
the above reactions, it is true that: “'If JM won 2020, it will be Nana came to
end Dumsor, incompetent JM brought it back'”
Dumsor
under NDC is a “Devil” introduced by their leader
Why
does a writer
What
is worse, is his introduction of dirty tribal politics, describing him as: “The
Gonja-born Mr. Mahama virulently and publicly loves to hate and shame the
Asante for being wisely niggardly with their ballot”
Even
in opposition, some “men of God” still try to accuse him of the current dumsor
Conclusion and Recommendations or
Suggestions
Figure 1: Hypocrisy Is a Twin of
Corruption
The
Special Prosecutor’s Office if allowed to function independently without any
form of influence or political interference could have helped Ghana in the
fight against corruption. This is because, it existence alone is a message to
all public workers to be careful in their dealings since no one will like to
humiliated and be prosecuted. Ex-President J. J. Rawlings of blessed memory was
advising NDC members, saying: “We’re Experts at Destroying Our Own”
NDC
did well by not over politicize this current problem, but it should have been
seen as a national problem that we must all collectively seek for a lasting
solution. Shifting blame in reaction to the behaviors of the government in
power and their supporters as seen above, will not help Ghana. So, comment
like: “Akufo-Addo Destroying Mahama’s Legacy”
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