The Media Must Ensure That Corrupt And Dishonest Individuals Are Rooted Out From The Security Agencies - And From The Government Too

If we are to remain a tolerant people practising a democratic system of government, it is vital that the media understands the importance of keeping the spotlight on the agent/principal concept as it applies to governance in Ghana.

The media must ensure that all those elected by a majority of voters in the last elections that took place on 7th December, 2016, who were given the mandate to govern Ghana for four years from 7th January, 2017, to midnight 6th January 2021, don't abuse the power given them by enriching themselves at the expense of the ordinary people of Ghana - in whom sovereignty resides we must never forget - and the nation to which they bear allegiance, the Republic of Ghana.

Above all, the media ought to encourage  the leaderships of the  security agencies to work hard to root out corrupt elements in their midst - for there is nothing more dangerous to democratic societies than security agency personnel who are unethical in their work and in their every day dealings with ordinary people.

President Akufo-Addo has reiterated time and again  that professionalism ought to be the hallmark of the men and women who serve in our country's  security agencies.

Their loyalty is to the Constitution and the sovereign people of Ghana - not the person of whoever happens to be Ghana's president at any given point in time in our history.

As a peole we have definitely gone past the kind of nauseating sychophancy that leads to the unlawful arrest of uncouth and ill-mannered individuals  who are so foolish as to insult their elders publicly. Arresting that Appiah Stadium character was needless embarrassment for a president who has  been dedicated to fighting for the right to freedom of expression for Ghanaians virtually all his adult life.

President Akufo-Addo has also made it absolutely clear that he wants the security agencies  to enforce all the laws of our country in relentless and rigorous fashion - without fear or favour: and regardless of the positions held by those against whom such allegations of high-level corruption are made.

In light of that the more responsible sections of the media must  endeavour to take note of and learn useful lessons from the claims and counterclaims of not being totally transparent  in the matter of investigations into allegations of corruption made against two deputy chiefs of staff at the presidency involving a senior police officer (a Deputy Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service no less) and a popular and controversial musician who is also a staunch supporter of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Appointees of the president were appointed to serve their country and work for the benefit of the people of Ghana. None of them is supposed to be in office to further their personal wealth-creation agendas at Ghanaian society's  expense. That is why it is a crime against Ghanaians for investigators to shield such individuals who might or might not be sheep-in-wolves-clothing rogues when allegations are levelled against them.

Did the president  not make the point several times during the 2016 election campaign that those NPP members who wanted to amass wealth had to look to the private sector to do so legitimately - as he was not prepared to tolerate corruption amongst   his appointees? Ebeeii.

The Ghanaian media's responsibility is to ensure that only those  with a moral compass whose work is underpinned by an ethical ethos - as regards the agent/principal relationship they have with the citizens of  Ghana  that underpins the public service they are supposed to render to all strata of Ghanaian society - continue to remain in office at all material times.

That is why all responsible journalists in Ghana have a moral obligation to always ensure that those investigating suspected wrongdoers in high positions in society are not themselves amoral and corrupt individuals.

With respect, we did not elect our leaders to come to power to rip our nation off - and aid and abet those engaging in sundry white-collar crimes (mostly to do with egregious profiteering in public procurement contracts) that deplete the nation's treasury.

The time has now come  for the more responsible sections of the Ghanaian media to ensure that all corrupt and dishonest individuals are rooted out from the security ag encies - and from the government too. Some of us are coming out of retirement to contribute our quota to this particular media anti-corruption campaign. Enough is enough. Haaba.z