Communications Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah has accused the Institute of Economic affairs (IEA) of being an appendage of the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).
According to him, the group is hiding under the cloak of political neutrality to pursue the interest of the NPP.
The minister’s accusation follows a recent survey by the IEA which cited the Office of the President as the second most corrupt public office in the country.
The IEA’s latest survey revealed that 19.2 percent of respondents sampled said following the Police Service as the most corrupt state institution is the Flagstaff House.
According to the Socio-economic and Governance survey, 15.4 per cent view tax officials as the third most corrupt and Parliamentarians as the fourth most corrupt.
The public also seem to have little confidence in some state institutions, the report noted.
Out of 11 institutions studied, 37.8 percent of the people said they do not at all trust the tax department. It is closely followed by the Electoral Commission – 35.8 percent; the NDC party – 35.6 percent and the Police Service – 35.1 percent.
Majority of the respondent also concluded that bribery among the people is very high and the acquisition of basic services like: getting a document or a permit; getting water or sanitation services; electricity connection; getting treatment at a local health clinic or hospital; avoiding a problem with the police among other services, was very difficult.
This is the second time the seat of Ghana’s government has been rated as the second most corrupt state agency.
Speaking on Radio Gold’s ‘Alhaji and Alhaji’ Saturday, the acting Presidential spokesperson said the survey was intended to embarrass the President.
“The NPP can afford to misconduct themselves because their surrogates like the IEA and the rest will always be defending them.
“The IEA was quick to distance themselves from their own report which indicted the kufuor government and was posted on their own website; but in this case they tell us that our defence to their survey which unfairly attacks the President is pathetic.
“They refuse to tell us how they came by their conclusions yet they want us to treat it as credible,” he fumed.
