Dr Thomas Prehi Botchway, Senior Political Science Lecturer at the University of Education, Winneba, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to take decisive action against corruption within the first 120 days of assuming office.
In an interview with The Vaultz News, Dr Botchway emphasized the urgency of holding individuals accountable for corruption allegations, a crucial step toward consolidating Mahama’s leadership and fulfilling his campaign promises.
According to Dr Botchway, President Mahama must demonstrate an unyielding commitment to uprooting corruption by ensuring that individuals implicated in corrupt practices are swiftly prosecuted.
He stressed that while the judicial process must be allowed to take its course, the government’s responsibility lies in initiating legal proceedings against those with serious allegations of corruption levelled against them.
“I think within the first one hundred and twenty days, indeed, people who may have been found to be guilty of corruption should be seen to have been placed before the law courts. I’m not saying that they should be sentenced or what have you because the court system is an institution on its own.
“Procedures may take some time before judgment may be delivered. But at least we should see the government taking the necessary steps to prosecute those who, you know, have serious allegations levelled against them”.
Dr Thomas Prehi Botchway, Senior Political Science Lecturer at the University of Education, Winneba
Setting a Precedent for Accountability
Dr. Botchway highlighted the importance of setting a precedent that would deter individuals from exploiting political office for personal enrichment at the expense of Ghanaians.
He stressed that prosecuting corrupt politicians, government officials, and public administrators is a necessary step to restore public trust and establish a new standard of accountability in governance.
“I sincerely believe that we have to set a precedence so that anybody who thinks of coming into politics to enrich themselves at the detriment of the Ghanaian will think twice.
“So for me, one of the most important things is that corrupt politicians, corrupt government officials, and corrupt public administrators, who we have evidence or have any level of allegations against, should be presented before the law courts so that proceedings are started”.
Dr Thomas Prehi Botchway, Senior Political Science Lecturer at the University of Education, Winneba
Dr. Botchway further clarified that bringing individuals before the courts does not equate to an automatic conviction but rather initiates a fair process to determine their innocence or complicity. He noted that this is crucial to upholding the rule of law while ensuring that justice is served.
Recovering Stolen Public Funds
Beyond prosecution, Dr. Botchway underscored the need for the government to prioritize retrieving stolen public funds and assets from those found guilty of financial malfeasance.
He suggested that confiscating illicitly acquired assets and reinvesting recovered funds into state coffers would serve both as punishment and restitution.
“When is it possible to retrieve stolen money from people who have been alleged to have stolen money? I’m saying alleged until the court proves otherwise. So if indeed we find that these people have harmed the state by stealing state resources, those things should be retrieved.
“The assets could be confiscated, retrieved, and then the money sent back into the state coffers”.
Dr Thomas Prehi Botchway, Senior Political Science Lecturer at the University of Education, Winneba
Dr Botchway urged President Mahama’s administration to implement stringent anti-corruption measures that go beyond rhetoric and symbolic gestures.
He insisted that taking bold steps in the early days of governance would demonstrate a genuine commitment to fighting corruption, a key issue that shaped the electoral discourse leading to President Mahama’s return to office.
The political scientist concluded that President Mahama’s ability to take swift action on corruption would significantly influence his legacy. He argued that failure to act decisively could erode public confidence and diminish the credibility of his leadership.
“We have to take stringent measures to deal with corruption. So I believe that within the first one hundred and twenty days, this should be some of our priorities”
Dr Thomas Prehi Botchway, Senior Political Science Lecturer at the University of Education, Winneba
As Ghanaians anticipate the direction of President Mahama’s leadership, the call for prompt and resolute anti-corruption efforts resonates widely.
Whether the President heeds this counsel and makes significant strides within the first 120 days will be a defining test of his commitment to governance reforms and national accountability.
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