Lux
The African Voice is optimistic that the British Prime Minister’s anti-corruption summit in the UK will yield results and show the strides African countries are making in fighting corruption but concerns are being raised in Ghana , one of the countries attending, on the spending habits of its President. Many watchers at the country’s Ministry of finance and our own sources at the Ghana High Commission are concerned that President Mahama, who is arriving this week to attend this summit in the UK has budgeted to spend £ 90,000 for just a five day stay in the UK where he is also scheduled to meet members of the Ghanaian community.
Questions are being asked as to the wisdom of spending this colossal amount of money and the huge entourage the President has arranged to travel with, an entourage including 11 ministers and cronies bringing the total to 21 .
President Mahama will also be staying at the Exclusive Carlton Jumeriah Hotel in expensive Knightsbridge in the heart of London not far from Buckingham Palace and Horse guards’ parade where a night is £2000!
Recently there was disquiet when the country’s Auditors General pointed out that the President, without the knowledge of officials at the Ministry of finance used 28,000 dollars of state funds for holidays with his wife and family members!
These actions are in stark contrast to what we have found out from some other African leaders attending the summit.
President Mahamadu Buhari of Nigeria for example is presented a modest budget of just £3,000 and travelling with a team of just 4 ministers.
President of Tanzania Mr Benjamin Magfuli is travelling with his wife and is spending just £2000 . We have learnt that he will be staying at the Tanzania High Commission to save money for his country
President Mahama ‘s actions in our opinion make a mockery of the anti-corruption summit and one wonders even if he should even attend if he was going to use this summit as an opportunity to grab extra cash from state coffers for his pocket.
Dr Festus Kanda Goka
Features Editor
The African Voice Newspaper
Overton Road Brixton
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