“Silence is not always golden,” a saying that resonates with Franklin Cudjoe, President of Imani Africa, as he raises concerns over the recent actions taken by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to prevent its members from speaking out on key issues.
Franklin, known for his outspoken views on political matters, has criticized the NPP’s decision to silence members and prevent them from airing grievances in public.
His comments come after the party issued a statement instructing its members to refrain from making their internal concerns public and referred Member of Parliament, Sara Adwoa Safo, to the party’s disciplinary committee for her actions.
In a post shared on social media, Cudjoe questioned whether the NPP has become a “secret society” due to its recent directive to keep internal matters private.
”Ah, is the NPP a secret society? Why is the leadership of the party preventing some members from disclosing acts of theft against the state? Hon. Adwoa Safo has, in her possession, properly audited report of how the fund for school feeding was raided by assigns of the previous government. Gagging her is unfair. I will urge Hon. Adwoa Safo to share the audit report with the ORAL team.”
He argued that by silencing members, the party is stifling accountability and transparency, which are essential to maintaining public trust.
Franklin Cudjoe pointed to the party’s decision to target Adwoa Safo as particularly concerning, especially since she is in possession of a well-audited report that allegedly details how funds meant for the school feeding program were misappropriated under the previous government.
Cudjoe’s remarks are aimed not just at the party’s internal conduct, but also at the broader issue of government accountability.
According to Cudjoe, the public deserves to know the full extent of the alleged corruption, particularly when taxpayer money is involved.
He believes that preventing Safo from sharing the findings of the audit report with the public is an unjust action, designed to cover up wrongdoing that could have a significant impact on public trust in the government.
The audit report in question allegedly contains detailed information about how the school feeding fund was mishandled, potentially diverting funds intended for the feeding program into other channels.
He pointed out that the report could expose serious financial mismanagement, and that Safo’s decision to hold onto it has significant implications for transparency and justice.
He urged Safo to release the audit findings, particularly to the Office of the Auditor-General (ORAL), to ensure the matter is investigated properly and that those responsible are held accountable.
Cudjoe’s call for transparency has sparked a wider debate on the role of political parties in upholding democratic principles.
Critics argue that the NPP’s attempt to silence members from speaking out on issues of national importance sends a dangerous message, implying that party loyalty trumps accountability and the public’s right to know.
While some party supporters may see the disciplinary actions as necessary to maintain party unity, others feel that the party’s lack of transparency risks eroding public confidence in its leadership.
The saga surrounding the school feeding fund audit report is a reminder of the ongoing challenges in Ghana’s fight against corruption.
Although the report has yet to be made public, Cudjoe’s call for Adwoa Safo to disclose the findings reflects the growing demand for greater oversight and accountability in the management of state resources.
As the situation unfolds, all eyes are now on Sara Adwoa Safo and whether she will heed Cudjoe’s advice to share the audit report with the public.
The case raises important questions about the balance between party loyalty and public accountability, and whether political parties should be more open about addressing issues that affect the public’s trust in government institutions.
