Anti-corruption crusader Vitus Azeem has challenged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to back his words with action in his fight against corruption.
Azeem said Ghanaians are becoming weary of the government’s promises to fight corruption, and that the president needs to do more than just pass laws and set up institutions.
He pointed to the Office of the Special Prosecutor, which has been in existence since 2018 but has been hampered by a lack of resources and staff.
“There’s no cause for us to be celebrating, the Office of the Special Prosecutor has been set up since 2018, how many staff does it have? Passing laws without giving them the necessary resources to perform, giving them the necessary independence to perform. He shouldn’t be boasting about that.
“It’s not just passing laws, but the teeth to bite. The president should back his words with action, how many of his ministers seriously accused of corruption has he sacked? Or brought them for prosecution? There are teething problems that you have not overcome. It’s an old story the president keeps talking about. We are tired of his sayings without action on the ground”.
Azeem also criticized the president for pre-empting the outcome of the investigation into former Minister of Sanitation Cecilia Dapaah, who resigned amid allegations of corruption.
“When the minister resigned, what did the president say? That he’s sure she will be exonerated,” Azeem said. “Was he not pre-empting the outcome of the investigations? If tomorrow the investigation comes, and he has not been found guilty, will Ghanaians believe that investigation?”
Azeem called on the president to take concrete steps to fight corruption, such as sacking ministers accused of wrongdoing and ensuring that anti-corruption agencies have the resources they need to do their job.
He said that if the president does not take action, Ghanaians will lose faith in his commitment to fighting corruption.
Source: citinewsroom.com