A Governance Expert Professor Baffuor Agyeman-Duah has observed that the Akufo-Addo administration has not done enough to fight corruption.
He stated that acts of corruption by government officials have not attracted official rebukes from the President.
Although he recognized that the government has established institutions such as the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to fight the corruption menace, the president hardly condemned his own appointees alleged to have been involved in corruption.
Speaking on the Ghana Tonight show on TV3 Thursday, August 10 while commenting on the issues involving former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources Cecilia Abena Dapaah, Prof Agyeman-Duah said “Under this government, the public has not seen any substantive statements and policies towards addressing corruption, of course, we are aware of the establishment of certain institutions to fight corruption but when it comes to human behaviors and actions we scarcely hear official condemnation or rebuke and truly this particular case is yet to receive official rebuke.”
His comments come after the OSP confirmed finding a total of $590,000 and GH¢2.73 million at Cecilia Dapaah’s residence in Abelemkpe, a suburb of Accra.
This follows a search conducted by officers from the Office. This was confirmed in a writ filed at an Accra High Court by the OSP on Tuesday, August 8.
The case has been moved to be heard on Thursday, August 17.
In the writ the OSP indicated that the search was initiated in accordance with LI2374 after rife reports pointed to some monies still stashed in the home of the former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources.
The reports started pouring in after she lodged a complaint at the police over some stolen money from her home.
“On 24 July 2023, the OSP placed the respondent under arrest on charges of corruption and corruption-related offences.
“The OSP subsequently conducted searches in three(3) residential properties associated with the respondent at Cantonments, Abelemkpe and Tesano in Accra.”
It said it found $590,000 and GH¢2,730,000 at the Abelemkpe residence.
“Authorised officers of the OSP seized the discovered cash sums on reasonable grounds that they were suspected tainted property in accordance with section 32(1) of Act 959 as it was necessary to exercise the power of seizure to prevent concealment of the cash sums.”
It also said as part of overarching investigations into the matter, a freezing order against bank accounts and investments of Madam Abena Dapaah was issued in accordance with section 38(1) of Act 959 and regulation 19(1) of LI 2374.
The accounts and investments are at the Prudential Bank Limited and Societe Generale Ghana.