The Member of Parliament for Bawku Central in the Upper East Region, Honorable Mahama Ayariga has expressed his deep frustration with Ghana’s anti-corruption agencies, accusing them of failing to effectively tackle corruption.
The National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament recounting his profound experiences, lamented the apparent disinterest and inaction from almost all state institutions established to fight corruption despite his persistent efforts to bring significant cases to their attention.
Honourable Ayariga, particularly expressed his disappointment over the inability of state institutions to act on a notable case involving the Bank of Ghana, where significant price adjustments and expenditures were made without perceived proper explanations.
He recounted that despite his countless efforts for anti-corruption state institutions to investigate the matter, none of them has made any significant progress.
This, according to Honorable Ayariga, is indicative of a broader systemic issue where the institutions meant to safeguard against corruption are failing in their duties.
One of the key agencies Honorable Mahama Ayariga expressed his disappointment in its inability to investigate the matter is the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
He noted that despite submitting his case months ago in addition to several letters to remind the office, he is yet to receive any substantial feedback or action from the office. highlighting the lack of communication and progress on his case.
Furthermore, the Member of the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament, Honorable Mahama Ayariga’s frustrations extended beyond the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
He criticized the entire network of anti-corruption bodies in the country, suggesting that they frequently make decisions that undermine the efforts of citizens trying to combat corruption.
“You take up the cases and you go there and after a while, they come out with some very interesting decision that just negates the initiatives that citizens have taken to fight corruption”
Honorable Mahama Ayariga, Member of Parliament for Bawku Central Constituency
Honourable Mahama Ayariga particularly expressed deep concerns over what he describes as the pattern of dismissal and inaction by almost all state anti-corruption institutions in the country.
He emphasized that the failure and inability of most state anti-corruption institutions to fight against corruption in the country can be attributed to the current administration’s approach to corruption.
Honourable Ayariga went ahead to accuse President Akufo-Addo and the New Patriotic Party administration for deliberately weakening and immobilizing almost all state institutions involved in fighting corruption.
Honourable Ayariga’s statements come at a time when public confidence in anti-corruption institutions is crucial.
His call for accountability and action underscores the urgent need for these bodies to restore trust and demonstrate their commitment to transparency and justice.
Corruption in Ghana is a significant concern, permeating various levels of government, public and private institutions.
Despite efforts to combat it, the problem persists, affecting economic development, public trust, and service delivery.
Key issues include bribery, embezzlement, and nepotism. High-profile corruption cases often involve public officials and government contracts, with minimal accountability or consequences.
Anti-corruption agencies, like the Office of the Special Prosecutor, the Criminal Investigative Department of the Ghana Police Service, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), face perceived challenges due to political interference and insufficient resources.
Addressing corruption in the view of many good governance advocates requires stringent enforcement of laws, public education, and political will.
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