The Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Hajia Abibata S. M. Zakariah, has described as inconsistent and unfortunate allegations that she used state funds to campaign during the 2020 NPP parliamentary primaries.
Investigations by CDD-Ghana’s Corruption Watch arm alleged that the then MASLOC Deputy CEO breached the provisions of the constitution when she distributed public funds to supporters of the governing NPP in Yendi, her constituency.
But speaking in an interview on Prime Morning on Monday, Mrs Zakariah dispelled the allegations on grounds that they lacked merit.
She was quick to add that the disbursement of funds at the time followed due process and only eligible applicants received the money.
"My crime was that I disbursed funds to people of Yendi; excuse me, Yendi is part of Ghana. It was unfortunate because for me, I thought they [CDD-Ghana] were not consistent."
"I didn’t feel aggrieved but I thought they didn’t do a good job because if you say undercover, this was something I did in the glare of the public," she stressed.
She also indicated that Yendi was not the constituency with the largest number of beneficiaries as the investigations alleged.
"Yendi wasn’t the only place I disbursed funds. Even that time, there were photos that were circulated with my former CEO when we went to the Ashanti Region, Kumasi Central Market, and we did same."
"What I expected from CDD was a kind of encouragement and not discouragement," she told hosts Emefa Adeti and Benjamin Akakpo.
The Centre has been championing a drive to expose the level of political funding and financing in the country, especially during elections.
In a recent study, it found that presidential candidates will need at least $100 million to win an election in Ghana whereas parliamentary candidates will have to cough up nearly ¢4 million to win a constituency seat.
Experts, following the just-ended elections, have raised concern over election financing and its propensity to affect the playing field as far as campaigning is concerned.
Hajia Zakaria reasoned with persons who think the country must take a critical look at the issue.
"I don’t think it is appropriate and something, immediately, has to be done and when I say it, I say it for all parties in Ghana [because] when we are going for elections, it must come with money."
"Money should not be the determining factor for you to choose someone. If we don’t look at that aspect, it will come to a time that even in Parliament, instead of having quality, we’d just have quantity," she hinted.
Latest Stories
-
Atta Akyea unenthused with ECG over refusal to release timetable
14 mins -
Bawumia mobbed in Ejisu at John Kumah’s one week funeral observance
24 mins -
We have a stable national grid; outages due to localised faults – ECG
1 hour -
Easter celebration: Ghana AIDS Commission to distribute free condoms in Kwahu
2 hours -
Zeepay secures additional $3m from Verdant Capital Hybrid Fund
2 hours -
Over 70% of power outages were due to planned maintenance works – ECG to PURC
2 hours -
Access Bank partners Horseman Shoes to boost local shoe manufacturing industry
2 hours -
Election 2024: Don’t vote for candidates making empty promises – CDD to Ghanaians
2 hours -
IGP shares Easter safety tips on Adom FM’s ‘Ofie Kwanso’
2 hours -
Ebo Whyte offers fully-funded trip as he unveils new play ‘Dubai or No Sex’
3 hours -
Ancient culture of Anlo Kingdom: Exploring “Torkor Atorlia,” the fifth landing stage’s old ways of punishment
3 hours -
Leaders from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Botswana, Cameroon and Sierra Leone to lead discussions at Africa Finance Corporation’s (AFC) 4th Country & Stakeholder Symposium
3 hours -
Network International Delivers Strong 2023 Revenue growth at 15% y/y and free cashflow growth of 16% y/y
3 hours -
President Akufo-Addo extends Easter Greetings to Ghanaians, urges safe drive
4 hours -
Government pushes for use of more local materials in housing, other infrastructure projects
4 hours