The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Young Patriots have accused President John Mills of presiding over what they call “massive corruption”. The group said the president had failed to check the menace even though he promised to “treat corruption within an arm’s length”, when he was in opposition. According to the pressure group, “There appears to be official corruption, impunity and abuse of power in the administration of seized cars at the Tema Port” and has urged President Mills and Vice President Mahama to act swiftly to nip corruption in the bud. At their second news conference in Accra yesterday, which forms part of their efforts to “let the people know” about the way the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was running the affairs of the country, the group thoroughly discussed what it called “corruption, impunity and stealing at the Tema Port” with the media. John Kumah, a spokesperson of Young Patriots who was arrested recently by security agencies for making unsavoury remarks about the president, said in 2009, 24 vehicles put on the wanted list of Interpol arrived at the Tema Port and were separated from other vehicles put under the custody of the Golden Jubilee Terminal, pending investigations. “Before investigations could be completed, a number of these vehicles were gazetted. The confiscated vehicles committee then proceeded to allocate these vehicles to some individuals with leanings to the NDC.” He said in May 2011, after investigations on the said vehicles had been completed, the National Security issued a directive for the vehicles to be released to their original owners but strangely, the committee rather put them up for sale, through a gazette notice number 13 of Friday June 10, 2011, depriving the original owners, fruits of their toils abroad. According to the group, a man called Joseph Bediako, a known NDC activist who once worked at the Tema Port under the notorious Carl Wilson, was able to throw more light on how the cars were allocated. He alleged Mr. Bediako claimed “five (5) of the vehicles were allocated to Alex Segbefia, a Deputy Chief of Staff at the Castle; another five (5) to officials of CEPS and the remaining 14 allocated to officials at the Office of the President”. Kumah said Ghanaians were being deprived of their legitimate properties as due process continued to be thwarted, with cars being allocated to officials and cronies of the government without recourse to the law. He said it had become clear that the ruling NDC was adopting a strategy of silencing business entrepreneurs who were perceived to be sympathizers of the NPP, saying, “Innocent business people who are helping to bring down high unemployment rate are being victimized using state institutions and agencies.” “When Kufuor said he wanted evidence to be able to act on allegations of corruption, then Professor Mills cried foul and insisted that he would act on the least information but what is happening now?” Kumah asked, adding, “Corruption allegations against appointees of this government are mostly leveled by their own party members and this is where President Mills needs to check it.” Richard Nyamah, another spokesperson, said some NDC appointees and activists were using state power to deprive hardworking Ghanaians of the fruits of their toil and sweat, noting, “This is daylight robbery. President Mills must act swiftly without delay.” “Cars confiscated are allocated to NDC members and when the victims complain, they tag them as opposition members,” he alleged. Asamoah Gyamfi, who is the acting chairman of the Young Patriots, said President Mills, by his silence in spite of the “massive” corruption in his administration, was “being hypocritical because he was the same person who reprimanded CEPS officials for under-cutting, but those right under his nose, he fails to take action against them.” Yaw Adomako Baafi, a member, said, “What we are revealing today is just a tip of the iceberg because we have many more cases of corruption against NDC appointees under President Mills and as the days go by we will let the public know about it.” “Ghanaians are now discerning to separate truth from propaganda and lies and we will never make allegation and not substantiate it.” Nii Kwatei Titus Glover, another member, said corruption under President Mills had become “unthinkable” and it was time to put the president on the “litmus test” on issues of corruption. He said the cars confiscated by the NDC authorities were sold cheaply at a time when the original owners were prepared to pay the right prices for them. Source: Daily Guide/Ghana