Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam Nartey George says he is not a ‘saint’ when it comes to corruption.
The outspoken lawmaker in an interview on Joy TV's personality profile was emphatic that he paid his way through to be elected.
To him, the average Ghanaian citizen is corrupt – hence, the struggle to fight the canker.
"Politicians are corrupt because of the people that we lead, the average Ghanaian is extremely corrupt and has lost their moral fibre. Politicians are a reflection of the people," he said.
“I paid to get elected, how did you think I got elected, I wouldn't sit here and say I didn't pay. They paid more than I did but I also paid, it depends on who. Monkeys play by sizes,” he noted.
Politicians are corrupt because of the people they lead, the average Ghanaian is extremely corrupt.
- @samgeorgegh, MP for Ningo-Prampram. #DriveOnJoy pic.twitter.com/EN3kyq5jKn— Joy 99.7 FM (@Joy997FM) February 10, 2023
Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana
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I abhor any form or facet of corruption and I will not use this to justify any form of corruption. We are all aware of the prevalence of corruption in our economy and the negative impact it has on our development as a developing nation, Ghana. I get angry when I hear a Member of Parliament, a politician, being populist and hypocritical by blaming others for his fallibility in corruption. Then he bought their mandate, ostensibly to represent their interests in Parliament, but his real aim was popularity and to enrich himself as an MP. It is instructive to note how Mr Sam George propagates against the ruling party with the affection of a saint, but in reality he is a devil in his own right. I simply despise how the NDC and its allies portray opposition politics as if you can only serve your country when you are in power. I think it's important to have a constructive debate on policies and to realise that it's a competition of ideas in the spirit of democracy. Politicians should then realise that being too vicious against your political opponent will eventually turn against you. It is high time the NDC came up with its own policies to prove that it is a better alternative in opposition. The "pull him down" syndrome is already counterproductive in Ghana's political space.
My problem is when it comes others , we hail them as “telling the truth”. Otherwise, such statements would be politicized and the import of the story would be lost. Regardless, must someone seeking for a position of an MP pay “bribe” to be elected to that office? Are we glorying bribe giving now? What is not good is not good. These attitudes should be condemned in all certain terms. If it had been a small “fly” who made such a statement, that fly would be roasting in jail by now.
@Ohemaa-Ba. I am happy that you are now engaging constructively on the issues raised by Sam George. Sam George raised very important issue for all of us to debate and urge Ghanaian workers who are fortunate to get government jobs to stop corruption which is killing our country. I didn't want you to politicise this issue which we all know is true. Civil and public servants are there to make life easier for the people. It is an attempted murder if a doctor is taking bribes before attending to a poor farmer whose cocoa farm helped in his/her education. Similarly, it is palpable wrong for anyone to take bribes before doing the job she/he is paid to do irrespective low salary. Low salary is a different issue and workers and their employers must deal with it. The government has responsibility to enforce so many laws on corruption. If they are not doing their jobs and are interested in bribes, sack them because Ghana is blessed with so many unemployed graduates. This is where Nana Addo and his government comes in. Look at fantastic Free SHS rolled out by his government and you allow few greedy cooks, matrons and workers of MOE to destroy such an excellent policy. We must have a courage to sack them. Ohemaa-Ba, please don't trivialise this important issue by bringing in how NDC MPs debate policy issues, that one is democracy and opposition always oppose and Ghanaians judge them every 4 years. Nice to have this conversation with you.
@Ohemaa- Ba, the digitalization agenda will also help widen the tax net so as to capture the whole chunk of the informal trading sector in tax revenue.
I think we make a big mistake by believing that only a stringent measure can help make a strike in our effort to reduce corruption. If the structures are in place, the strenuous measures will complement them. It is undeniably true that a country's economic well-being is inextricably linked to the corrupt activities of any given economy. In Ghana, there is a huge disparity between the average wage level and a sustainable, humane living standard. I strongly welcome the Vice President's, Dr. Bawumia's, effort to use technology and digitalization to leapfrog certain infrastructural deficits in our economy and yet help reduce direct human contact so as to reduce corruption. It is unfortunate, that you don't hear the NDC constructively debate this policy, except to frustrate it. Yet, a whole group of politicians like Sam George and his cohorts will not scruple to blame the peasant electorates for corruption when they sell their valuable votes for as little as 100 GHS. That is why I lament the NDC's inability to debate policies rather than always looking for sensationalism to dwell on in order to make the government unpopular for cheap political points. That is the beef about the NDC's opposition politics.
This is very serious and pathetic, considering the fact that these same people confess to be Christians, moslems..yet we intentionally tag every leader, especially 'government officials' as corrupt. Trully said though, but I disagree that everyone is corrupt. My main question is that, having confessed it, are you going to continue to engage in it or otherwise? He who confesses his sin and stop is forgiven. The other major challenge is the fact that often instead of admitting our sins and ask for forgiveness, rather we take delight in generalize it, making it seems as if everyone is doing it therefore there's nothing wrong. I beseech everyone in the name of God to reposition oneself and to resolve not to remain in corruption if ure doing it. Continue practicing of this canker will not guarantee a peaceful future for our children and unborn generations we claim to love and working for. George, thank you for starting it. I hope the rest in the soup will do a Godly Introspective and repent. May God be our help. WHO IS DISTURBING THE NATION?
You admit that even cooks are stealing food meant for children, yet you lay the problem on the doorstep of Nana Addo. We are all th3!ves, let's admit that and stop blaming the president.
@Ohema-Ba, stop the politicization of this issue as it is a serious problem facing us. You Ohema-Ba, you are corrupt too hence you are trying to deflect from the main issue raised Sam George. Sam George is absolutely correct. Ghanaians are ***barred word*** so let us use the correct word and stop using corruption to describe them. This is why we are angry with Nana Addo despite that he has done very well in terms of some of his economic policies. However, he has done relatively little in terms of the fight against corruption. He must know that the fight on corruption and economic growth are intrinsically linked and the government prosecute them together. In Ghana, matrons and cooks cooking for School children steal from little kids. They steal foodstuff meant to feed these little children. Wow...unbelievable.
This is an open secret that we all are hypocritically ignoring. The average Ghanaian is corrupt so there is no way our politicians can’t be corrupted. Monkeys don’t give birth to dogs.
Your NPP members of Parliament don’t they also pay bribes to be elected. Stop the hypocrisy Ohemaa