Former Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Nii Lante Vanderpuye, says lack of severe punitive measures explains why public office holders keep flouting the laws.
Speaking with Benjamin Willie Graham on GBC News’ Current Affairs programme ‘Focus’, Mr. Vanderpuye said apart from naming and shaming which offenders are now used to, no mechanisms have been put in place to stop them from stealing from taxpayers.
”It is important to look at the report and what punitive action to exact and the corrective measures that would be meted out to culprits”.
The programme which looked at the Attorney-General’s report on MMDAs also had Manasseh Atabuyan, a Government Spokesperson. He was of the view that the revelation is quite disturbing and as the Auditor-General ordered, the matter must be followed to its logical conclusion.
Dean of Studies and Research at the Institute of Local Government Studies, Fred Oduro, who joined the discussion via zoom said it is surprising that the Auditor-General referred the matter to the Head of the Local Government Service when it has the power to surcharge the perpetrators.
