President Akufo-Addo has stated that his administration has overseen the enforcement of strict measures designed to eliminate corruption in Ghana.
He highlighted that these efforts have been carried out through major reforms in the legal system, which are already yielding positive outcomes.
Giving his remarks at the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) conference in Kumasi he said, “We’ve also taken strong, systemic steps to combat corruption, rooted in a holistic program of legislative, administrative, financial and technological reforms. We’ve established the Office of the Special Prosecutor, a critical institution in the fight against corruption, and we’ve provided them with the necessary tools to prosecute those who seek to enrich themselves at the expense of the Ghanaian people”.
He emphasized that, “During my first term in office, Parliament passed the Witness Protection Act in 2018 which I signed in law to create a witness protection scheme for individuals cooperating with law enforcement, especially in corruption cases”.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration has been heavily criticized for its perceived failure in addressing corruption.
Concerns about the issue’s impact on national progress have been raised by critics, civil society groups, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), and a portion of the Ghanaian public.
However, President Akufo-Addo pointed to the passage of the Critical Offences Amendment Act of 2020, which “upgraded corruption from a misdemeanor to a felony, imposing stricter penalties of 12 to 25 years imprisonment”.
“In addition, my administration has driven the passage of several key laws that bolster the state’s ability to fight corruption”.
He noted that these frameworks among others have “strengthened the institutional framework to combat corruption and ensure accountability”.
“Administratively, a series of other far-reaching measures have been undertaken by my government to help in the fight against corruption” he added.