“It is not my job to clear or convict any person accused of wrongdoing, or of engaging in acts of corruption. My job is to act on allegations of corruption by referring the issue or issues to the proper investigative agencies for the relevant enquiry and necessary action. That is exactly what has been done since I assumed the mantle of leadership on 7th January, 2017. If an appointee is cleared of any wrongdoing, the evidence adduced and recommendations made by these agencies, after the investigations are concluded, are what clear the accused persons, not myself. None of these agencies has ever indicated any pressure from the Executive over their investigations.”
These were the words of the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Monday, 9th September, 2019, when he addressed the 2019 Conference of the Ghana Bar Association, in Takoradi, in the Western Region.
Addressing the Bar Conference, President Akufo-Addo stated that, “it cannot be the case that people are condemned on the basis of mere allegations. That is the law of the jungle.”
Acknowledging the “orchestrated attempts by my opponents to hang the tag of corruption on the necks of my government and myself, despite all the manifest efforts being made to deal with the phenomenon of corruption”, the President had a simple answer for them.
“It will not work. I did not come into public life to enrich myself,” he stressed.
Cataloguing the allegations of corruption levelled against his appointees, the President indicated that, every single alleged act of corruption is being or has been investigated by independent bodies, such as CHRAJ, the CID, and, in some cases, by Parliament itself.
“From the allegations against the then Minister-Designate for Energy at his parliamentary confirmation hearings; to that against the former CEO of BOST; to those against the two deputy Chiefs of Staff; to the conflict of interest allegations against the Minister for Finance; to the claims of extortion against the Trade and Industry Minister; to allegations of doubling in visa racketeering against the then deputy Minister for Youth and Sports, the then Director General of the National Sports Authority, who, even though exonerated by the CID, later resigned, and the Chairperson of the Board of the National Sports Authority; to the allegations of bribery levelled against the Secretary to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining; to the latest involving the suspended acting CEO of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) and the dismissed CEO of the National Youth Authority – they have all been investigated or are being investigated by the authorised institutions of our state, and not by President Akufo-Addo,” he stressed.
More so, Government, according to the President, has systematically increased the funding for the accountability institutions of our State, such as Parliament, the Judiciary, the Office of the Attorney General, CHRAJ and the Auditor General.
“2017 witnessed a 25% increase in allocations to these five institutions over those of 2016; 2018 witnessed a 34% increase over 2017; and the 2019 mid-year budgetary allocation is virtually at par with 2018,” he added.
Indeed, the Auditor General, Mr. Daniel Domelevo stated on 18th June, this year, when thanking Government for the “substantial increase in support” his outfit received, said “the Executive has played its part. I hope you are aware when there was a change in government, the first announcement we heard was a ban on procurement of vehicles, is that not it? But this was the time government gave us the permission to buy thirty-four (34) vehicles to support the audit service. We had never bought ten (10) vehicles in the history of the Audit service before.”
Additionally, the President reiterated the fulfillment of the campaign promise to establish an independent Office of Special Prosecutor to focus on the prosecution of corruption-related offences.
The Office, he said, is up and running, manned by an experienced, well-known prosecutor, who has been an active member of the opposition National Democratic Congress, and cannot be described, by any stretch of the imagination, as a member or sympathizer of the ruling New Patriotic Party.
“His appointment was deliberate to highlight the independent nature of the Office. I am optimistic his work will justify the confidence the Ghanaian people and I have in him,” President Akufo-Addo added.
With 21 officials of the previous administration standing trial over their involvement in alleged acts of corruption or causing financial loss to the state, amounting collectively to the tune of some GH¢772 million, the President stated that their trials are being conducted in the normal manner, with the safeguards that the law grants all accused persons, so that due process is respected.
“The courts will, at the appropriate moment, deliver their verdicts,” he added.
The President stated that his government is committed to fighting corruption not just in words, but, more importantly, in deeds.
“Many of the actions taken by this Government in dealing with alleged acts of corruption, and much of the narrative I have outlined, were unheard off in times past. The days when the ‘punishment’ of erring public officials was their relocation to the Presidency are over.
“Where prosecutions are called for, they have been or will be initiated. The war against corruption will not be won overnight, but, with political will, it will be won,” he added.
Source: Peacefmonline.com
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
Ok, if we are to believe you, you personally dont clear your corrupt appointees but you set up a corrupt system that automatically and paperlessly clear your ***barred word***. Thats about one of the two 'brilliant' schemes you have embarked on. Mahama would have done better. You and your th1eving gang are the same as Mahama and co. but he handled it better. SHAME ON YOU, SAKORA WAAKYE
The least said about you the better. An apology of a president
i would advice you keep your raps only on free SHS. U yourself you are not sure of what u said yesterday.
The disgrace is too much. Under your watch Bissue had the audacity just a few days ago to wed a deputy communications minister. Nyantakyi is walking free. Hadzidey has become your key defender. No need to be told people can read through the lines. Just hold your peace, the thumbs of Ghanaians will decide.
I laugh tey. Um eh say what? You see non seriousness. Anyways he is leader of national plunderers Party (NPP)
Very simple, if you want us to go back to the Days of killing people at the Teshie shooting range, say so? but remember that didin't change anything. The rule of law should be applied to all otherwise, no one will be left in Ghana. we need to trust the institutions to work. and it will not happen overnight. but no matter how long it rains, the sun always shines again. so lets support this man to do a good job. remember he was a human rights lawyer who fought for the rule of law to be applied to all!
chief clearing agent said he is not, then who takes the title? bawumia, oppong nkruma Ursula, eoco, atta akyea, bissue or??? eyes are watching
what is wrong with what the president said if anyone has evidence contrary to what was presented to the investigative bodies. you don't have open your mouth wide and speak or scribe nonsenseeeees on this platform if you guys have no sensible things to write or say.
After listening to the president I didn't just conclude that he is cor.rupt but I think the president is a th1ef.
He is indicting the judiciary, the police administration and other investigative bodies that they are the one's to be blamed if none of his appointees who have been accused of corruption is left off the hook. But all of us know how you keep blaming the opposition for smear campaign when sometimes the corruption expose was not done by the opposition. Are Anas and Mannessah NDC? These are independent minded journalist who are doing very good job to help curb corruption yet you keep undermining their work. If you are president of a nation and an allegation is brought before you, and your first reaction is that it is the opposition who are creating an impression of corruption, you have already emboldened the investigative authorities to clear them in your favor, which is also a major corruption.