'Borehole proposal is an attempt to corrupt MPs'

Executive Director for the Ghana Integrity Initiative, Mr Vitus Azeem has cautioned Members of Parliament to reject the proposal by telecommunications company, Rlg, to provide boreholes to the two hundred and seventy five constituencies in the country.

According to him, the offer is a “potential attempt to corrupt them (parliamentarians).”

“They should reject it outright. If he wants to provide boreholes for communities, he should go ahead to provide them but not through parliament,” he said.

According to media reports on Wednesday, the Group Chairman and CEO of Rlg, Mr Roland Agambire, had written to Members of Parliament, inviting each member to select a site in his or her constituency for a borehole to be drilled at the expense of the Ghanaian-owned ICT giant.

The reports said the boreholes would be sponsored by the RLG Foundation as part of its corporate social responsibilities.

However, Mr Azeem who was speaking on Accra-based Joy FM, questioned the motive behind Rlg’s commitment to provide boreholes to parliamentarians.

He further questioned the cost involved in the provision of 275 boreholes, saying, “If one is 5000 then you can know how much it comes to. Then you look at the business; how much profit does this person make to make that sacrifice? Then government will come in. Does he make enough profit, how much tax does he pay on his profit to be willing to do this?”

Mr Azeem noted that the proposal by Rlg comes at a time when pressure is being mounted on the House to probe into alleged misappropriation of state funds by the communications technology firm.

“This is a company that has been cited in contracts with SADA and with GYEEDA where there were questions that have not been satisfactorily addressed. So again it goes back to the motive? What is the motive for all this? Where are we going to?”

By Jasmine Arku/Graphic.com.gh
Jasmine.arku@graphic.com.gh