The Executive Secretary of the National Interest Movement, Susan Adu-Amankwah, says Ghana will only progress if it begins to prioritise ethics over legal technicalities.

Contributing to discussions on Newsfile on JoyNews on Saturday, April 12, over Rev. Ntim Fordjour's allegations of two aircraft he suspects may have been involved in drugs and money laundering, she criticised what she described as a growing disconnect between legality and morality in Ghana.

“If this country would focus more on ethics than law, we would move forward,” she said. “We talk about law, but you can have law without any ethics. We are so focused on law and so unethical, it’s not even funny.”

Referring to Rev. Ntim Fordjour's allegations, Susan Adu-Amankwah questioned the responsibility of public figures when making such serious allegations.

“You think that as somebody who has been voted for as a representative of the people, you have no moral obligation to assist the state in the welfare of the people? If there were drugs on board, and those drugs have come into our system, it could be my child or anyone’s child who becomes an addict. You think that is okay?”

She expressed concern that the matter had been handled carelessly in the public domain, suggesting that his suspicions should have been raised in a more responsible and private manner.

“I would have been okay if he said there have been flights here under suspicious circumstances, and called for an investigation without jumping straight to claims of cocaine and cash,” she said.

Susan Adu-Amankwah also criticised the lack of clear evidence behind the allegations.

“When he says he is not interested in the cargo, we are. Because he went on to say there was cash and drugs on board, and that’s a cause for concern, facts don’t necessarily make up the truth, facts can be twisted, and conclusions manipulated,” she added.

She stressed that anyone in a position of power should have known the right steps to take. “If he didn’t have evidence of cocaine or money, what was he talking about? He is no ordinary citizen. He could have gone to the NIB and say this has come to his attention. He could have said, ‘If I don’t get answers in a certain time, I’ll go public.’ That’s what a well-meaning citizen does,” she said.

She added that this issue was less about national interest and more about political performance.

“It’s not about grandstanding or trying to disgrace the country,” she said. “It should be about doing what’s right for Ghana,” she said.