The President of Ghana, Nana Akuffo-Addo, has stated his commitment is to develop state agencies who will serve the best interest of the citizens.
Speaking in a meeting with members of the state anti-corruption coalition team, he indicated that his government has not moved away from such commitment.
“My commitment that, we should try and develop a state whose agencies act not in the personal interests of those who mount them at any given time but then in the interest of those to whom they serve, I’ve not retreated in any way from that.”
President Nana Akuffo-Addo
During the meeting with the anti-corruption coalition team, the President described the corruption allegations usually raised against him as highly politicized.
According to President Akuffo-Addo, the line that separates Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) from giving independent and politicized thoughts “is very thin, in many cases the lines are in fact crossed” and for that matter cannot be overlooked.
“There are Civil Society Organizations that mounted campaigns to make sure that I did not continue to sit in this seat, and I believe a lot of objective people will appreciate the point that I make”.
President Nana Akuffo-Addo
However, as a leader, he averred he is obliged to listen to diverse forms of opinions to objectively battle corruption regardless of his mistrust about the unbiased nature of the CSO’s.
He further acknowledged the presence of an atmosphere where institutions can have political conversations without any fear unlike it existed in the past.
Government’s commitment through support
In the battle against corruption, President Akufo-Addo stated that his government’s commitment is demonstrated in the logistical and financial support provided for state anti-corruption agencies which for him has never happened before.
He further indicated that since 2017, his government has raised the quantity of resources that are allocated to Parliament, the Judiciary, Police, EOCO and CHRAJ, among others.
The President however, stated that it is sad when people carry the view that government’s commitment to tackle corruption is diminishing, especially when about three facts are considered.
He averred, “I don’t think that any government has mobilized resources to give the opportunity for anti-corruption agencies of the state to function as efficiently as this government has done. It is a matter of record”.
President Nana Addo revealed that the fight against corruption would have been unsuccessful without investments in the anti-corruption agencies.
He noted that, “If the institutions of the republic that are meant to take the struggle are not capable to do so, all talk about fighting corruption remain meaningless”.
Moreover, President Akuffo-Addo mentioned that yearly increases in budgetary allocations for the anti-corruption bodies are comprehensible evidence of his administration’s commitment to combat corruption.
The Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition is a joint public, private and CSOs across all sectors with the ultimate aim of dealing with issues pertaining to corruption as well as create workable means to curb corruption.
Nana Osei Bonsu, the Chairman of the Coalition revealed that the group is disconsolate with how public officials respond to calls for resignation of Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, the Health Minister with regard to the Sputnik Vaccine deal.
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