The National Coordinator of the District Road Improvement Programme, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, has called for stricter background checks on individuals seeking public office following the arrest of the Member of Parliament for Asante Akyem North, Ohene Kwame Frimpong, in the Netherlands over alleged romance scams and money laundering.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Thursday, May 14, Vanderpuye said state institutions, particularly Parliament, must be protected from incidents capable of damaging the country’s reputation, urging the need for stronger systems and procedures to properly profile and assess persons before they are allowed to occupy sensitive national positions.
According to him, Ghana risks repeated embarrassment on the international stage if authorities fail to conduct thorough due diligence on political aspirants before approving them to contest elections.
“There must be processes to diligently evaluate and assess people before approving them to hold certain positions, especially Members of Parliament, because they are the embodiment of our constituencies and our laws,” he said.
Vanderpuye further maintained that the vetting process should begin before elections, explaining that any concerns or “question marks” surrounding a candidate’s background must trigger further engagement and caution.
He noted that early investigations into candidates would help protect the integrity of Parliament and other state institutions.
His comments come after Ohene Kwame Frimpong was arrested by Dutch security officials at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam shortly after a KLM flight from Accra landed in the Netherlands.
The MP is alleged to be linked to romance fraud and money laundering activities currently under investigation.
Meanwhile, Parliament, in a statement signed by Clerk to Parliament Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, disclosed that the Speaker and leadership of the House are engaging Ghana’s diplomatic mission in The Hague to obtain details surrounding the detention. Authorities in the Netherlands are yet to officially comment on the allegations, while diplomatic discussions with Ghana remain ongoing.
