President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said that his administration has resourced all the institutions involved in the fight against corruption well enough.
He indicated that the budgetary allocations to all the institutions have increased by the end of 2022 compared to what he inherited after assuming office in 2017.
Speaking at the launch of the evaluation of Ghana’s National Anti-Corruption Action Plan at the Jubilee House in Accra on Thursday, December 21, President Akufo-Addo said the increase in the budgetary allocations demonstrates his resolve to fight the corruption menace.
He said “Other notable achievements include digitization and digitalization of key sectors of the economy to enhance efficiency and corruption and reduce opportunities for corruption; restructuring of the public-sector internal audit system through amendment of the Internal Audit Agency Act 2003, (Act 658) aimed at putting internal auditors at the center of our fight against corruption using a preventative approach; the establishment of 545 audit committees in public services to strengthen internal control and the coming together of relevant institutions to form the key accountability institutions forum to minimize work overlaps and maximize the use in resources in addressing corruption and crime and for the exchange of information.
“It is also an undeniable fact that budgetary allocation to institutions actively engaged in public sector accountability such as the Office of the Auditor General, the judiciary, parliament, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), the Ghana Police Service, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), and the Financial Intelligence Centre have witnessed unprecedented increase since I assumed office in 20217.
“At the end of 2022, the budgetary allocation to parliament witnessed a 100% increase compared to what I initiated in 2016. The Police saw its budget increase by 274% at the end of 2022 in comparison to 2016, the Audit Service budget increased by 258% at the end of 2022 as compared to 2016, the budget of the Judiciary rose by 36 percent at the end of 2022 compared to 2016, that of the Attorney-General increased by 162% at the end of 2022 compared to 2016, EOCO budget increased by 47% at the end of 2022 in comparison to 2016, that of Finacial Intelligence Centre, increased by 443% compared to 2016, while the budget of CHRAJ increased by 99% at the end of 2022 compared to 2026.
“These figures reflect my resolve to ensure that institutions of the state of relevance in the anti-corruption agenda are properly equipped.”