Prez Akufo-Addo speaks on anti-corruption fight today

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will today address the country on major strides the government is making in the fight against corruption.

He will do so at the annual conference of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), slated for the Western Regional capital, Takoradi, the Minister of Information, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has announced.

The President has long given the assurance that he is committed to protecting the public purse and curbing the propensity for corruption in the country.

In 2016, President Akufo-Addo campaigned on a platform of ensuring that the national exercise to curb corruption was bolstered, especially with his personal record of incorruptibility and his commitment to strengthen the institutions responsible for aiding the anti-corruption fight.

Since assuming office

The Information Minister, who announced this at a news briefing in Techiman in the Bono East Regionon Sunday, September 8, said since assuming office, President Akufo-Addo had taken a number of measures aimed at fulfilling his commitment to fight corruption.

He said in recent months he had also taken action against persons perceived to be involved in acts associated with corruption.

“At the annual bar conference in Takoradi on Monday, a platform where practitioners in law and justice will gather, the President will account for how he has handled the anti-corruption agenda and spell out outstanding steps in ensuring that his outstanding commitments to the subject see fruition,” he said. 

Mr Nkrumah said the government expected that all stakeholders would continue their commitment to the anti-corruption fight and assist in strengthening state institutions that lead the charge.

“The government also expects that the anti-corruption fight will focus on verifiable facts, rather than conjecture and suspicion, paving the way for tangible, verifiable action,” the minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for Ofoase-Ayirebi, added.

Background

The government pushed for the passage of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) Act, 2017 (Act 959).

The OSP is a specialised agency set up to investigate specific cases of alleged or suspected corruption and corruption-related offences involving public officers and politically exposed persons in the performance of their functions.

It is also expected to investigate such cases against private sector players.

It has the power to prosecute such persons on the authority of the Attorney General.

The country has also adopted the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP), which was postulated by civil society and embraced by the government.