Mr. Joe Whittal (fourth left), Mrs. Linda Ofori-Kwafo (middle) Samuel Abu-Jinapor (fourth right), and Hon. Okyere Agyekum (third right) in a group photograph with some participants at the conference.
THE DEPUTY Chief of Staff, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has assured Ghanaians that government is fully committed to combating any form of corruption in the country.
Speaking at the commemoration of the African Union (AU) Day against Corruption in Accra on Wednesday, July 11, he said the Akufo-Addo-led government is putting in place measures to sufficiently provide the office of the Special Prosecutor the necessary logistics to ensure the smooth running of the office to curb corruption in the country.
According to him, corruption stifles developmental projects and can never be a joke that the African continent will eliminate corruption in the near future.
“The government of President Akufo-Addo has and will continue to implement policies aimed at fighting corruption in our country . . .” he said.
He further urged Ghanaians to collectively join hands with government and other anti-corruption agencies to combat corruption in the country.
The Executive Director of the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), Linda Ofori-Kwafo, said in fighting corruption the AU must “create, enhance and enforce legislation on corruption, financial crime and money laundering, including legislation, confiscation, freezing and seizure of proceeds of corruption.”
She said, currently, there are about 38 countries out of the 54 AU member states who have signed the treaty of ‘African Union Convention to Prevent and Combat Corruption’.
“The GII is calling on the AU to promote transparency and accountability to address corruption in education, health and justice systems and end impunity for those convicted of corrupt practices”, she stressed.
She also urged the AU to ensure the remaining member states subscribe to the treaty in order to fight corruption across the continent.
The African Union (AU), during its 30th Assembly of Heads of States and Government early this year in Addis Ababa, launched 2018 as the African Anti-Corruption Year. This follows the declaration made at the 29th Assembly of the Heads of State and Government in January 2017 to win the fight against corruption in Africa.
By Nii Adjei Mensahfio & Ebenezer Gyamerah