Vitus Azeem, an anti-corruption activist, has urged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to back up his words with action in the battle against corruption.
Ghanaians, according to Azeem, are tired of the government’s pledges to tackle corruption, and the president needs to do more than create laws and establish organizations.
He cited the Special Prosecutor’s Office, which has been in operation since 2018 but has been impeded by a lack of money and personnel.
“There’s no cause for us to be celebrating, the Office of the Special Prosecutor has been set up since 2018, how many staff does it have? Passing laws without giving them the necessary resources to perform, giving them the necessary independence to perform. He shouldn’t be boasting about that.
“It’s not just passing laws, but the teeth to bite. The president should back his words with action, how many of his ministers seriously accused of corruption has he sacked? Or brought them for prosecution? There are teething problems that you have not overcome. It’s an old story the president keeps talking about. We are tired of his sayings without action on the ground”.
Azeem also criticized the president for pre-empting the outcome of the investigation into former Minister of Sanitation Cecilia Dapaah, who resigned amid allegations of corruption.
“When the minister resigned, what did the president say? That he’s sure she will be exonerated,” Azeem said. “Was he not pre-empting the outcome of the investigations? If tomorrow the investigation comes, and he has not been found guilty, will Ghanaians believe that investigation?”
Azeem urged the president to adopt tangible anti-corruption measures, such as dismissing ministers suspected of misconduct and ensuring that anti-corruption authorities have the resources they need to accomplish their jobs.
He claims that if the president does not act, Ghanaians would lose trust in his commitment to combating corruption.
