NDC will not shield officials involved in wrongdoing – Fifi Kwetey

The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fifi Kwetey, says the party will not shield any of its members or government appointees found culpable of wrongdoing, insisting that President John Dramani Mahama shares its commitment to accountability.

Speaking on JoyNews' PM Express, Mr Kwetey said the party was determined to seek answers whenever concerns about possible wrongdoing emerged, rather than rush to defend those involved.

He said the approach represented a departure from what he described as a previous tendency among political organisations to protect their members when allegations arose.

"That I am fully aware of. That when something is going on, even the party, we are the first people to start calling to see what's going on. We want to know what's going on," he said.

"I suppose in the past when the number one instinct is to try to protect and defend and cover, now no. The intention is to say what's going on. We want to be clear."

Mr Kwetey said the NDC's commitment to accountability meant that no individual should be allowed to jeopardise the party's reputation or the country's interests.

He outlined what he described as a hierarchy in which the interests of the nation take precedence over those of the party, while the party's collective interest comes before that of any individual member.

"Like the good book says, it is better for one individual to perish than for the nation to perish. Same way, it is better for an individual to be sacrificed than for the party as a whole to take a fall. The same way, it is better for the party itself to be sacrificed than for the nation to be sacrificed," he said.

"So it's almost like that hierarchy. Individual is secondary to party. Party is secondary to nation."

The NDC General Secretary said President Mahama's position on accountability had made it easier for the party leadership to raise concerns with government officials.

He said the President was similarly interested in establishing the facts whenever questions arose about the conduct of ministers and chief executives.

"In this respect, I would say the president is in alignment, and therefore it gets easier," he said.

He added that the President's approach reinforced the party's efforts to seek explanations and ensure that the right steps were taken when concerns emerged.

The NDC government has faced public scrutiny over allegations and controversies involving public officials, including the World Cup visa controversy and questions surrounding the cost of evacuating Ghanaians from abroad.

Mr Kwetey's comments come amid broader public debate about the government's anti-corruption commitments and the extent to which officials within its own ranks will be held accountable.