A Former Chairman of the Confiscated Vehicles Committee has revealed that Ghana does not need to go to the IMF and other Bretton Woods institutions to borrow money for developmental projects if the loopholes at the Tema Ports can be blocked.
Carl Wilson, who is also an activist on the National Democratic Congress (NDC), said Ghana can have enough money from the Tema Port alone for several developmental projects if corruption at the Tema Port can be curtailed.
The political scientist was speaking on Onua FM’s Yen Sempa hosted by Bright Asempa on Tuesday.
“We wanted to plug all the loopholes in the Port and if we can do that, all the leakages at the Port will cease,” he said.
He explained that “if we can plug the loopholes in Tema Port for just one year, the N1 costs $550m but we can build more N1s in Ghana within that one year”.
Mr. Wilson added that “it will not be necessary to go to borrow because the amount of money that goes into the private pocket at the Tema Port when it comes to the government can turn the fortunes of the country”.
“Corruption at the Tema Port is a cartel and if you try to block it, they will either make sure you leave or they kill you. That was how bad it was and it is still there”, he added.
“I wanted to sacrifice and block all the loopholes but my party people fought against me over that since most of the people who imported cars were party agents.”
He revealed that “the then vice President, John Mahama gave me the mandate to do my job. He told me, Carl, stamp your authority and clean up the port so I was expecting he uses that vigour he gave me to clean the Port now that he is the President, but that is not happening”.
The former Chairman of the Confiscated Vehicles Committee said “I feel betrayed by my party [NDC] but I supported the late President John Atta Mills for asking me to step out because all the attentions were on me then instead of giving the attention to the good jobs the then government was doing”.
Relationship with President Mahama
Carl Wilson explained that he had an excellent relationship with the then vice President Mahama because he encouraged him to ensure the Port was clean but “I have not spoken to President Mahama before ever since he became the President of Ghana. The occasion or opportunity has not come for me to speak to him. I called him once but he did not answer. I made the attempt to meet him but I could not have access to him,” he explained.
Mr. Wilson explained that he is ready to work for Ghana if President Mahama appoints him to any position.
“I can work to help him if he gives me any appointment. I had other appointments after I was asked to step out as the Chairman of the Confiscated Vehicles Committee but a close person doesn’t want me to me to be given any political appointment.”
By Kweku Antwi-Otoo|Onua FM|3news.com|Ghana
Twitter: @3Newsgh
