Speaking at the commissioning of ‘The Law House’, on Monday, 10th June, 2024, President Akufo-Addo has emphasized that anti-corruption efforts remain a vital priority for his government, even as his government faces broad criticism over various alleged corruption cases that have surfaced during his presidency.
The President stressed that access to information is a vital tool in the fight against corruption, as it shines a light on hidden abuses of power and prevents corruption from hiding in the shadows.
As such, he pointed out that his government took a significant step to address this issue by passing the Right to Information Act (RTI) in 2019, a landmark legislation that enhances transparency and accountability, during its first term in office.
Accordingly, President Akufo-Addo explained that the Right to Information Act is designed to bring into force the constitutional provision in Article 21(1) (f), which guarantees the right to information, and thereby fosters a culture of transparency and accountability in government.
“The Act which successive governments failed to pass, see to the implementation of the constitutional right to information held by public institutions to foster the culture of transparency and accountability in public affairs subject to exemptions necessary and consistent with the protection of the public interest in a democratic society, the Act is now fully implemented with the governing board chaired by an experienced and respected retired high court judge”.
President Akufo-Addo
The President also mentioned that the Ministry of Information has conducted training programs for information officers in various government ministries, departments, and agencies, to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively implement and enforce the Right to Information law.
He reassured the public that the Right to Information law will effectively guarantee access to information, thereby removing a significant obstacle in the fight against corruption and ensuring that transparency and accountability prevail in the country.
President Akufo-Addo Highlights Key Anti-Corruption Initiatives
Furthermore, President Akufo-Addo also drew attention to the fact that in 2018, the Witness Protection Act (Act 975) was passed by Parliament and subsequently signed into law by him on August 24th, 2018, to provide a legal framework for the protection of witnesses in the fight against corruption and other crimes.
“The Act establishes a witness protection agency to create a witness protection scheme as a vehicle for offering protection to persons who are required to cooperate with law enforcement agencies as witnesses in the investigation and prosecution of cases particularly corruption cases affecting public officers”.
President Akufo-Addo
Moreover, President Akufo-Addo expressed disappointment and concern over perceptions that he is solely focused on exonerating his appointed officials accused of corruption, implying that such notions are misguided and do not reflect his commitment to tackling corruption across the board.
He emphasized that, as a steadfast believer in the rule of law, he has simply ensured that all cases are thoroughly and impartially investigated, to prevent any wrongful convictions or miscarriages of justice, rather than shielding anyone from accountability.
The President specifically called out John Mahama, the 2024 presidential candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), for labeling him a “clearing agent”, implying that Mahama has been spreading false accusations about his handling of corruption cases involving government officials.
He also stated that instituting the Law House project is another step by his government in empowering the fight against corruption in the country.
The Law House project, launched in 2001, experienced significant delays, causing its initial completion deadline of May 2004 to be missed.
After being terminated, the project was re-awarded on January 10, 2023, and ultimately completed in June 2024, marking a successful conclusion to a project that had spanned over two decades.
The completed Law House project features a modern design that boasts an array of amenities, including conference rooms, 130 offices, a spacious eating area, 120 parking spaces, and various other facilities, thereby significantly expanding its capacity and functionality to meet the needs of its users.
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