President Akufo-Addo has refuted accusations that he has interfered in investigations into corruption allegations against his appointees.
Citing various instances of corruption allegations involving government officials, the latest being former Sanitation Minister Cecilia Dapaah, the President stressed that he has allowed mandated institutions to conduct impartial investigations.
“I have never interfered in any corruption case. No government in the Fourth Republic has subjected its officials to such scrutiny. It is not my job to clear anybody… No evidence or allegation has been forthcoming that the executive has made any attempt to influence the outcome of any of these investigations,” the President said.
President Akufo-Addo was speaking at the Launch of the Evaluation of Ghana’s Maiden National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP) at the Jubilee House in Accra on December 21.
NACAP 1 has been in force for nearly ten years. It proposes new anti-corruption measures that will constitute the basis for NACAP 2 which will span the period 2025 to 2034.
NACAP constitutes Ghana’s National Framework to drive anti-corruption activities and promote national development.
President Akufo-Addo asked institutions involved in the country’s fight against corruption to critically evaluate Ghana’s maiden “National Anti-Corruption Action Plan” (NACAP 1).
The President insisted that, “there is the need to understand how the action plan has contributed to reducing corruption in the country and to make necessary adjustments to policies and institutional arrangements based on the evaluation results.“
The National Anti-Corruption Action Plan, contains strategic action plans identified and agreed upon by stakeholders during a nationwide consultation exercise.
President Akufo-Addo said “evaluation is important to assess the contribution of NACAP to the fight against corruption in all spheres.”
Government Statistician, Professor Samuel Kobina Annim, said the Ghana Statistical Service is ready to lead a broad and participatory evaluation of Ghana’s maiden NACAP, mobilize resources and stimulate interest to develop NACAP 2.
By Nana Kwaku Aduah