Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has lamented the incessant and unresolved murders, likewise corruption in the country.

According to him, this is the “irresistible” conclusion when one reads the latest 2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices published by the U.S. Department of State. He revealed that the report highlights the 2020 election killings and how none of these investigations, officials announced, have been completed and no perpetrator has been brought to Justice after more than 2 years.

Mr Ablakwa explained that this is a significantly troubling observation as Ghana prepares for another round of presidential and parliamentary elections next year.

“It is apparent that the international community is deeply worried particularly about unresolved killings and alarming levels of corruption in Ghana.”
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa

Mr Ablakwa stated that despite the high number of recorded murders in the country, President Akufo-Addo has “heartlessly” refused to make any public comment on the killings or commiserate with grieving families even though it occurred under his watch as Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces and was the “greatest beneficiary of that bloody election”.

He noted that it is due to this “climate of impunity” that has emboldened the likes of “Braggadocios Bryan Acheampong” to lawlessly promise more violence and mayhem during the 2024 election. He highlighted that as was predicted, the security services have been “toothless, helpless and hapless” following the now infamous incendiary war mongering statements from the cabinet minister.

“I do sincerely hope that in the face of obvious government complicity and impunity, Ghana’s Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) will expedite action on the petition Hon. Emmanuel Armah Buah and I brought before it in 2021 demanding justice for our slain compatriots.”
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa

The North Tongu legislator expressed that once CHRAJ and other institutions show patriotic courage by eventually taking action on the 2020 gruesome killings, they will be helping to prevent an escalation in 2024. Furthermore, he explained that the 2022 Country Reports also document other heinous killings such as the Nkoranza killings and the Yendi Killing by police officers – which he described as totally unacceptable that perpetrators have not been brought to book.

Addressing issues of corruption in the country

Commenting on the surge in corruption in the country, Mr Ablakwa stated that it is a national embarrassment for the Country Reports to reveal that “officials frequently engaged in corrupt practices with impunity” and that there were “numerous reports of government corruption” which was present in all sectors of government.

He stated that the report makes reference to the Afrobarometer which reveals that 85% of respondents rated the government’s handling of the fight against corruption as “fairly bad” or “very bad”.

“The U.S. State Department also relies on a July United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Corruption in Ghana Survey, which strikingly reveals that 25% of persons who had contact with a public official in the 12 months prior to the survey reported having been asked to pay a bribe by a public official.”
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa

Describing the legacy of President Akufo-Addo as a “terrible” one, he indicated that for a President who promised to make corruption high risk and to do everything in his power to protect the public purse, this puts a dent on his mission to deal with the canker. He asserted that the 2022 Country Reports on Human Rights further draws attention to the continuous harassment and attacks on journalists. The closure of Oyerepa FM and the assault of Connect FM staff, he noted, feature prominently.

“Activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor and ASEPA boss Mensah Thompson whose tribulations were highlighted may take some solace that more and more international observers are following their controversial judicial cases with keen interest.”
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa

Furthermore, Mr Ablakwa reckoned that it is quite terrifying that the report also reveals that despite the influx of over a thousand Burkinabés fleeing terrorist attacks in their home country, only a few have been registered by the Ghana Refugee Board raising major security concerns for Ghana.

By and large, he opined that the State Department’s 2022 Country Reports focus on matters many key actors including opposition politicians and CSOs have raised consistently. By virtue of this, he highlighted that the US report has many similarities with other reports such as the latest 2022 Amnesty International Report on Ghana.

To this end, he emphasized on the need for government to tackle these pertinent matters in the country which might necessarily have far-reaching implication on its outlook.

“It is my expectation that concrete steps shall be immediately outlined by relevant authorities, particularly with regards to the unresolved killings, endemic corruption, brutalities by security personnel, harassment of journalists and activists, poor prison conditions, attacks on free expression and gender-based violence.”
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa