Since Ms. Hammah has not publicly denied the tape nor its content but rather caused the attempt of her driver, it will be logical to conclude that the voice on the tape is hers. Whoever did the recording really did her in.
Nevertheless once the content of the tape became public, we have no other option than to interrogate it and see whether issues raised merit our consideration. Personally I think we have exaggerated almost the issues Ms. Hammah raised on the leaked tape.
Of course US$1 million is no small money. It could build thousands of boreholes or provide dozens of classroom blocks for many deprived communities. Indeed many were those who raised issues with Ms. Hammah’s appointment as a Deputy Minister.
Frankly, she didn’t have many sympathisers and being embroiled in one scandal or the other did not help much in winning over public sympathy. What did the President see in her to employ her? It indeed sad that she could not justify the faith Mr. Mahama had in her considering her “appointment was solid way back.”
But come to think of it I don’t understand why an “innocent” person could be used to pacify the sins of many a corrupt government official. Yes, she declared her intent of making a certain amount of money in politics.
Unlike her, many people who have masterminded many corrupt deals are still walking free with some still at post as government appointees. What didn’t we hear about GYEEDA, ISOFOTON, Subah, as well as millions of dollars paid as judgement debts?
While I hold the view that corruption in any form must never be countenanced, I still believe government’s swift reaction to hammer Victoria is a clear case of double standards. Despite the several reports of financial malfeasance reported at Public Account Committee, Judgement Debt Committee, among many other committees set up to review the infamous GYEEDA rot, nothing really had come out of it.
Of course the likes of Victoria and co are touchable; you can do away with them. She is just a small fly in the mix—no wonder her target was a paltry US$1 million while the likes of GYEEDA and Subah, SADA alone are reported to have blown over US$1billion.
Aunty Vick is a product of the system—one which promotes and institutionalised corruption. Unless we have a system that allows political parties to be financed with public money, we ain’t doing away with corruption anytime soon.
Party financiers are no philanthropists. The juiciest of contracts are awarded to them as a way of rewarding them for their loyalty. However, public financing of political parties allows the parties to streamline their spending.
It does not create a platform where one party will be attempting to outshine the other. In this case, money does not become a key factor as for instance, expensive advertisement among other things can be dealt with.
As far as the funding of political parties is left to private and “hidden” businessmen, we will always breed a crop of people who are into public service to make returns on their “investment”. There are so many Victoria Hammahs in the system.
The big fishes in the soup are the relatively unknown, wrecking more havoc to us than the Vic Hammahs. Sadly, these are the untouchables and no leader of a party will dare touch a hair on their body. Like Vic said on the leaked tape, she has no roots in the party so her sacking was easier and swift.
These recent events point to our ineptitude in tackling corruption. So why is it that some alleged corrupt practices are left to committees and review committees and others acted on swiftly. Why must we be quick to punish intents but slow to punish the actual action?
The golden rule to stealing, as someone will say, is not to get caught--if you are clever, you will continue to cheat the system. No wonder the “father” of modern judgement debts is a financial engineer by profession—Alfred Agbesi Woyome.
Apart from the two salient points in the leaked tape that relates to her low ambition and the part relating to the justices of the Supreme Court, the rest is idle gossip. Almost everybody is guilty of that one way or the other.
Of course we have not been caught on tape. With the advancement of technology, Vicky Leaks indeed points out that we are all vulnerable. Those who are fond of badmouthing in particular must take a cue from this.
Not only has she lost her job, but her “friends” and potential ones who would be wary of falling victim to her acidic tongue. To some extent I pity her and I know she will be traumatised for a long time to come.
Victoria Hammah, please take a cold shower and come back to show some maturity. Apologise to all those you who were hurt by the incident. And please don’t try justifying some of the things you said. Build bridges and extend the olive branch to particularly Rachel Appoh, yeah?
It’s never easy but the world has not come to an end; move on.
I’m out.
