President Nana Akufo-Addo has fired back at the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), accusing its members of orchestrating a deliberate campaign to tarnish the reputation of his government, family, and himself with false corruption allegations.
He believes this is a retaliatory tactic following the corruption convictions and ongoing prosecutions of members from the previous administration.
Addressing the Annual Ghana Bar Association Conference in Kumasi yesterday, President Akufo-Addo said he was aware of the deliberate and sinister effort to undermine the progress made by his government in combating corruption and promoting good governance.
“I am aware that there is a deliberate, politically motivated effort to portray my government, my family, and myself as corrupt. I suspect it is payback for the damaging allegation of corruption levelled against the Mahama administration,” he stressed.
Responding to repeated criticisms from the opposition leader, John Dramani Mahama, who has labelled him a “clearing agent,” President Akufo-Addo reaffirmed his commitment to upholding due process in the fight against corruption, stating that he will not abandon this principle under any circumstances.
“The leader of the opposition, the perennial NDC presidential candidate, continues to describe me as a ‘clearing agent.’ It is important that I reiterate that I will not, under any circumstance, abandon the course of due process in the fight against corruption.
“Be that as it may, in any event, I will leave it to the judgment of the Ghanaian public to decide whether it is preferable to be a ‘clearing agent’ or a ‘government official one’,” he asserted.
The President reiterated his party’s resolve to uphold the rule of law, citing their approach to law enforcement as a testament to this commitment.
He emphasised that the government has taken concrete steps to enhance the effectiveness of security agencies, ensuring they operate within the bounds of the law.
Furthermore, President Akufo-Addo underscored the importance of protecting human rights, stating that the widespread abuses of the past will not be tolerated in a democratic Ghana.
“We have established mechanisms to ensure that those who abuse their power are held accountable. In the international arena, we have sought to uphold the rule of law and champion democratic values.
“Ghana’s voice has been strong in defending international law and human rights and advocating for democracy on the global stage,” he intimated.
Measures
President Akufo-Addo touted his administration’s efforts in combating corruption, citing significant strides made through a comprehensive approach of legislative, administrative, financial, and technological reforms.
According to him, these stringent measures are aimed at eradicating corruption in Ghana, noting that the measures have been achieved through substantial upgrades in the legal administration system, which are already yielding results.
Key among these reforms mentioned is the establishment of the Office of the Special Prosecutor, which he described as a critical institution in the fight against corruption.
The President assured that his administration has provided the Office with the necessary tools to prosecute individuals who seek to enrich themselves at the expense of the Ghanaian people.
“During my first term in office, Parliament passed the Witness Protection Act in 2018, which I signed into law to create a witness protection scheme for individuals cooperating with law enforcement, especially in corruption cases,” he stated.
President Akufo-Addo again recounted the passage of the Criminal Offences (Amendment) Act of 2020, which “elevated corruption from a misdemeanour to a felony with harsher sentences of 12 to 25 years in prison.”
“In addition, my administration has driven the passage of several key laws that bolster the state’s ability to fight corruption,” he pointed out.
For him, these frameworks among others have strengthened the institutional framework to combat corruption and ensure accountability.
“Administratively, a series of other far-reaching measures have been undertaken by my government to help in the fight against corruption,” he posited.
By Ernest Kofi Adu