Adopt positive attitude towards eradicating perceived corruption – Mahama
Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Saturday called on Ghanaians to adopt a positive attitude towards identifying and eradicating the perceived corruption in the judiciary.
He described it as a social canker that had affected both public and private lives of the society and needed a proactive measure than the defensive stance that some people had adopted towards its elimination.
Vice President Mahama was speaking at the final funeral rites of the late Farhan Laary Bimi, Chairman of the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), held at the State House in Accra.
The Vice President expressed worry over the seemingly defensive stance taken by the General Legal Council at the recent conference on the alleged controversy of the judiciary sparked by the late Bimi.
“Rather than being defensive about the issue, we must adopt a more positive attitude towards identifying, minimising or if possible, eradicating corruption,” he said.
Four Accra-based lawyers were recently hauled before the General Legal Council, the regulatory authority for the legal profession in Ghana, by the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana to substantiate corruption allegations they made against some judges in the country, during a round table on the judiciary to herald the Constitution Week of the NCCE.
They gave credence to several research findings which claimed the judiciary was one of the most corrupt institutions in the country, an allegation that received a lot of media attention.
The lawyers included Late Larry Bimi, Dr Raymond Atuguba, David Annan and Abraham Amaliba
Vice President Mahama paid glowing tribute to the late Bimi saying he would be remembered for the “good works he left in the sands of time.”
He described him as an empathetic listener, generous, humble, honest and an integrity keeper.
Former Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama in a tribute described the Late Bimi as a self-made man who championed democracy and civic education during his lifetime.
He said the Late Bimi was a lawyer; teacher and a true democrat who though was soft-spoken remained forthright with the truth and issues of utmost importance to national development.
The 66 year-old Lawyer, former Ambassador cum Teacher died on Friday, July 22 and was buried on Saturday, July 23 in conformity with Islamic traditions.
The Chief Imam, Sheikh Nuhu Shaributu offered a special prayer for the soul of the Late Bimi.
The solemn funeral rites was attended by some ministers, members of the Council of State, parliamentarians, party functionaries, staff of NCCE from all over the country, relatives and sympathisers.
Other tributes were read by his wife, the Bimoba Youth Association, Old Vandals Association, NCCE, friends and family members.
Source: GNA