He said many people have accused him of not speaking on issues of corruption since he became president but insisted that the government must gather enough evidence on alleged corruption cases before pressing charges.

[contextly_sidebar id=”zVGwPe5Iatjb0HeZzVC4MBcK4lpz2rJo”]He argued that government will treat alleged corruption as criminal matters and not go on political witchhunts.

“We [government] will not let [corruption] go. Some people say I’m no longer talking about the rot and corruption I used to highlight in opposition. I want to state that the trial of people on corruption is not a political trial, it is a criminal trial and we are not using it for political purposes but we are using it to enforce the criminal laws of our country so we will make sure we get our case right and necessary facts right”.

Akufo-Addo made the comment while addressing the Chiefs and people of New Juaben at Koforidua in the Eastern Region on Friday as part of his tour of the region.

The vowed that any government official cited in cases of financial malfeasance will be dealt with according to law to serve as a deterrent to others.

Hinting of expected actions on corruption in the coming weeks, the president said, “I believe we are all in this country and no one is leaving the country so we will all be witnesses to what happens in the coming weeks”.

Government’s fight against corruption

Fighting corruption has been a major focus of the Akufo-Addo government which accused the previous John Mahama government of presiding over unprecedented acts of corruption and depriving the country of the much-needed development.

Although the NPP government has been in place for just 11 months, the government has not been spared from accusations of corruption among its officials.

Recent scandals such as the diversion of premix fuel, the sale of contaminated fuel by the Bulk Oil Storage and Transport (BOST) Company, and the accusation of corruption levelled against two deputy chiefs of staff by a sympathizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame A-Plus, appear to have smeared the government’s image already.

Despite these developments, President Akufo-Addo has given security agencies a directive to investigate any official within his administration who will be accused of corruption.

He said the move is to ensure that no one goes unpunished for proven corrupt acts.

The President has also said he will not be distracted by all the accusations of corruption which he described as attempts to tarnish his government.

He feels there have “been systematic efforts to try and stigmatise [his] government with corruption.”

“There are two hardworking men in my office who were accused of corruption – my two deputies. The CID looked into it but there was nothing. CHRAJ, with a boss John Mahama appointed, also looked into the allegations but there was nothing there.”

“Now there a saying Alan Kyeremanten also went and extorted money but we looked into it and there is nothing there… The desperate effort to stigmatise my government with corruption is not going to work,” the president added.

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By: Neil Nii Amatey Kanarku/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post My corruption fight still on course – Akufo-Addo appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Flt Lt Rawlings stated that, “the current government owes its own survival to the anti-corruption crusade,” explaining that some administrations who found the integrity level of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) too high and intimidating made it a point to corrupt some of “our national institutions in order to survive.”

Rawlings made the remark when he received a delegation of political leaders from Sierra Leone led by former Vice-President, Chief Sam-Sumana on Sunday.

He noted that, governments that fail to punish corrupt officials provide a favourable climate for the crime to thrive.

“By the time this administration came into office, the country was literally drowning in the practice of corruption with impunity. This administration has therefore inherited national corruption at its worst,” Mr. Rawlings stated.

Former President Rawlings told his guests that the revolution brought the best out of the people.

He recalled several efforts supported by Western powers to derail the process, including the deportation of one million Ghanaians from Nigeria under Shehu Shagari’s administration.

“The expectation was that, the revolution would have to be collapsed in order for Shagari to survive. Unfortunately, the revolution survived and Shagari had to go, unseated by General Buhari who seemed slightly out of touch with the prevailing political climate and subsequently had to be unseated by General Babangida. We survived because the people felt they owned the process,” former President Rawlings said.

Chief Sam-Sumana, who was dismissed under controversial circumstances in 2015, informed the former President that his delegation comprised leaders drawn from several political groups in Sierra Leone and the diaspora, who had decided to come together as a coalition to contest the country’s next election.

The former Vice-President said the group recognized President Rawlings’ ideals and desire to see a better Africa, describing him as a man who served as the foundation for the renewed development of Ghana after the demise of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

“We look up to you as a role model because of the peace and stability you brought not only to Ghana, but to Sierra Leone and Liberia during your tenure as Head of State,” Chief Sam-Sumana said.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post ‘NPP inherited national corruption at its worst’ – Rawlings appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The decision to set up a committee was taken at the Executive Committee meeting on Monday following a review of the technical direction of the Black Stars.

The three-man committee is headed by the GFA vice-president Fred Crentsil who will work with Fred Pappoe and Francis Oti Akenteng.

The committee will work with Black Stars coach Kwesi Appiah to find the person capable of steering the national team in the right direction.

The committee will send its report to the Executive Committee next week.

Source: Ghanafa.org

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