Dr. Maliha Abubakar, a political scientist at the University of Winneba, has emphasized that genuine political will is a crucial factor in the fight against corruption.
She argued that without political will, even the strongest policies and institutions would be ineffective.
Speaking in an interview with Vaultz News, she pointed out that making bold public statements about tackling corruption is not enough, as true commitment is demonstrated through concrete actions.
She noted that many leaders who speak the loudest about fighting corruption often fail to follow through with meaningful efforts, leaving the problem unresolved.
Dr. Abubakar further explained that political will goes beyond rhetoric and involves a demonstrated and credible intent by political leaders to confront corruption at its roots.
In this regard, she commended former President John Mahama’s decision to establish the ORAL initiative, describing it as a promising step toward holding individuals accountable for the unlawful acquisition of state resources.
While acknowledging this move as a step in the right direction, she also suggested that sustained action would be necessary to maintain public trust and ensure lasting results in the fight against corruption.
According to her, the swift constitution of the ORAL committee and its subsequent report submission to the Auditor General signified an initial demonstration of commitment.
However, she urged caution, reminding Ghanaians that similar past efforts had faltered.
“Former president [John Agyekum] Kufuor declared zero tolerance for corruption. In the early days of his administration, it appeared he demonstrated some effort to actually fight corruption when we saw him prosecute some members of his government,[in the case of] Mallam Yussif Issah, [former Minister of Sport] under the Kufuor-led NPP administration.”
Dr. Maliha Abubakar
Despite these early moves, she pointed out that the enthusiasm for corruption prosecution faded as the administration progressed.
Dr. Abubakar noted that one of the biggest challenges in fighting corruption in Ghana is the slow pace of the judicial system.
“As for fast-tracking the prosecution of cases that would arise out of the reports that were submitted by ORAL, well, we all know that our judicial system is pretty inundated with unlimited cases, and then the progress of these cases are very slow. Cases can travel as long as 10 years. It’s just like dragging our feet in the court.”
Dr. Maliha Abubakar
Accordingly, she strongly endorsed the proposal for establishing special courts dedicated to handling ORAL cases.
Dr. Abubakar emphasized that this measure would be crucial in expediting prosecutions and ensuring justice is served within Mahama’s four-year tenure. “ Otherwise, when he leaves, a new attorney general would come and then call these cases witch hunts, and so would dismiss them.”
According to her, the slow pace of Ghana’s judicial system often results in cases dragging on for years, making it imperative to adopt a more efficient approach.
By setting up these specialized courts, she argued, the government could fast-track trials, prevent unnecessary delays, and uphold public confidence in the fight against corruption.
As such, the political scientist highlighted the creation of the “Fast Track” courts during the Kufuor administration, suggesting that Ghana could revive this approach to speed up the prosecution of ORAL cases.
Concerns Over Political Interference
Furthermore, Dr. Maliha Abubakar highlighted the challenge of political influence on the Attorney General’s office.
She expressed skepticism about the independence of the position, noting that as long as the Attorney General is appointed by the President, the risk of political bias remains.
“Look, as long as an attorney general is appointed by a president who belongs to a particular political party, that attorney general always knows that the president can fire him at any point in time.”
Dr. Maliha Abubakar
She explained that very few Attorney Generals have been able to stand up to presidential influence despite the office’s supposed independence.
As such, she called for reforms to make anti-corruption institutions financially and administratively independent from the executive to enhance their effectiveness.
Addressing concerns from critics who argue that ORAL cases may be used for political vendetta, Dr. Abubakar dismissed such claims.
She emphasized that the judicial system would ultimately determine the outcome of any allegations, highlighting the importance of due process and the rule of law.
The political scientist pointed out that when accusations are made, the accused has the right to legal representation and a fair trial.
The burden of proof, she explained, lies with the prosecution, in this case, the Office of the Attorney General, which must present credible evidence to substantiate the ORAL committee’s claims.
This, she noted, ensures that cases are not determined by political interests or public opinion but by factual evidence and legal merit.
Dr. Abubakar, however, acknowledged past instances where political figures were jailed under controversial circumstances.
“But then again, we have seen instances of this political machination where people have been jailed in the name of causing financial loss to the state when the attorney general could not really find any tangible evidence against them. And I think we can cite the case of Tsatsu Tsikata, which was a pathetic one.”
Dr. Maliha Abubakar
Transparency Will Be Key
Moreover, Dr. Maliha Abubakar emphasized that the NDC must handle ORAL cases with complete transparency to maintain public trust.
She reminded the government that Ghanaians overwhelmingly voted for the NDC, which was a message of confidence in their ability to uphold democracy.
“So uphold the democracy of the country that the erstwhile administration was not able to do… When you also look at the way John Mahama…admonishes his ministers, they [the NDC] recognize this fact that the Ghanaian has reposed so much trust and confidence in them.”
Dr. Maliha Abubakar
As such, she warned that any failure to ensure fairness and transparency in handling ORAL cases could erode public trust.
According to her, Ghanaians are more politically conscious than before and will not hesitate to vote out any government that fails them. “Whoever disappoints them, they will show you the exit.”
The success of the ORAL initiative, therefore, hinges on its ability to deliver justice fairly and efficiently without political interference.
While the NDC has made a promising start, only time will tell whether this effort will yield real accountability or become another abandoned anti-corruption initiative.
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