A former Finance Minister under the Atta Mills administration, Dr Kwabena Duffour, has called for a national debate on state support for candidates who contest in the national elections.
This is pursuant to efforts aimed at curbing the high incidence of corruption in the country.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with JoyNews, Dr. Duffour expressed the view that one of the reasons why corruption is rife in the country is because candidates rely on individuals and organisations to fund their campaigns.
According to him, many rely on loans and support from family and friends to fund their campaigns, hence they feel indebted to these people when they win power.
"My personal view is that we don't own our government. Our system is such that it puts so much pressure on politicians to look for money to campaign. When he gets the position, those who have been helping him for let's say ten years will have to be compensated."
He, thus, proposed that as a way of tackling the canker, the state should provide support systems for candidates such that, "when a President wins the election, he doesn't feel indebted to anyone and he's not won because so many people have paid but he's done so because the state has supported him."
"Assuming we set a portion of the budget to support them without any external help other than the state support when they win, we'll own them as a nation," he said.
Latest Stories
-
Over 40 health facilities completed under Akufo-Addo’s tenure, Okoe-Boye reveals
2 mins -
Reflect integrity, become problem solvers – Graduates told
5 mins -
ILO Valuation Report based on assumptions – SSNIT
8 mins -
NDC won’t allow you to impose your successor on Ghanaians arrogantly – Mahama to Akufo-Addo
10 mins -
Dumsor: Okoe-Boye advises hospitals to use generators
15 mins -
Akufo-Addo’s insistence that chiefs stand up to greet him worrying, disrespectful – Mahama
21 mins -
First Atlantic Bank wins ‘Digital Bank of the Year’
46 mins -
Ejisu by-election comes off today
49 mins -
Cedi to weaken further; year-to-date depreciation hits 13.35%
50 mins -
Bond market: Total market turnover declined by 32.36% to GH¢772.30m
54 mins -
Fuel price increases expected to slow down in coming days – IES
58 mins -
Prisons Service says it is probing officers vs. soldiers clash in Bawku
1 hour -
Border restrictions impact businesses and residents amid Togo elections
2 hours -
We’ve helped close leakage gaps – SML maintains
2 hours -
Ketu South MCE commissions an ultra-modern toilet facility in Aflao
2 hours