Edem Senanu, Co-Chair of Citizens’ Movement Against Corruption (CMAC), disagrees with President Akufo-Addo’s evaluation of his anti-corruption accomplishments, stating that it does not align with the perspective of the anti-corruption community.
While acknowledging that the President has established various measures and structures to address corruption, Edem emphasized that having measures in place is not sufficient to effectively combat corruption, and more action is needed.
Edem’s comment came in response to President Akufo-Addo’s claim, made during the launch of the Law House, that he has made significant progress in combating corruption by implementing various measures to tackle the issue.
According to Edem Senanu, Ghana’s consistently poor performance in Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI) under the current administration indicates that the government’s efforts to combat corruption have been inadequate, despite claims to the contrary.
“We really have not achieved the best of levels. We’ve not, as it were, succeeded in doing better than we had done earlier than his government. I think that the CPI will speak for itself if we are going to do an assessment. It is easier to say it [fight against corruption] on a campaign platform. When you come in, you will discover that even your party people are not aligned with you in this fight. I’m not sure the President would have put his Presidency on the line fighting galamsey if he knew what was going to happen”.
Edem Senanu
Furthermore, Edem Senanu emphasized that combating corruption requires a comprehensive approach, pointing out that establishing anti-corruption agencies and enacting laws is only the first step, and that Ghana needs decisive and effective leadership to truly make progress in the fight against corruption.
Edem Senanu also indicated that strong leadership is demonstrated by robustly dealing with any members of the government who are found or suggested to be involved in corruption.
“Isolate them, allow the rule of law to deal with them, and don’t pass any comments that seem to suggest that you have already taken a position or drawn conclusions”. – Edem Senanu
He warned that the President making statements about corruption cases involving government officials may inadvertently intimidate institutions responsible for investigating corruption allegations, leading them to prioritize aligning with the President’s stance over conducting impartial investigations, out of fear of reprisal or job loss.
Corruption Investigations Criticized For Lack Of Due Process
Moreover, Edem Senanu noted that Ghana’s institutions often fail to follow proper procedures and protocols when investigating corruption cases, which can undermine the effectiveness and credibility of these investigations.
Edem Senanu cited the Cecilia Dapaah case as an example, stating that the President’s decision to publicly express his belief in her eventual exoneration, via a letter, constitutes a departure from neutrality and has the potential to interfere with the due process of the investigation, potentially influencing the outcome.
“I mean, that’s not due process. Due process, you stay…above the fray. Allow the institutions of state to finish their work and then they provide the results. I don’t think that any report from the OSP appears to have vindicated Cecilia Dapaah. For all of us [the anti-corruption community] there was no vindication. She’s not been able to express the sources of the money. It’s the reason why others have made appeals to Parliament… because the law has not been fulfilled”.
Edem Senanu
Edem Senanu added that the President’s public comments have, in numerous instances, hindered the investigation process, and stressed that the President’s stance on combating corruption is misguided, suggesting that his actions have been counterproductive to the efforts to tackle corruption.
“It seems to me like sometimes politicians feel like the more they say something is good, then everybody believes it’s good”. – Edem Senanu.
He suggested that a thorough and objective analysis of the situation would lead to a different conclusion about the effectiveness of the fight against corruption, one that contradicts the President’s optimistic view.
Despite acknowledging the President’s notable efforts, Edem Senanu emphasized that considering the prevailing circumstances and the severity of corruption, the President and the ruling government must take more decisive and robust actions to significantly improve the country’s performance in the fight against corruption, exceeding what has been achieved in the past.
