President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has stated that allegations of corruption leveled against his appointees have been investigated by independent institutions mandated to carry out such investigations.
In addition to the establishment of the Office of Special Prosecutor in the fight against corruption in Ghana, President Akufo-Addo stressed that there is also the need for those who hold government positions to have a change in attitude towards corruption.
“For instance, if members of my administration are indulging in corrupt acts, any time an allegation is made, I have to see to it that it is investigated.
“So far, investigations have not yielded any evidence (of appointees indulging in corruption), but it is important that it is known that people of my administration will be subject to scrutiny if they go off schedule.”
President Akufo-Addo made this known on Thursday, when he spoke as a panelist on ‘Championing Investments: Presidential Investment Chats’ at the ongoing Africa Investment Forum, organized by the African Development Bank, in Johannesburg, South Africa.
It will be recalled that the allegations against then Energy Minister-designate, Boakye Agyarko, at his parliamentary confirmation hearings were subjected to a bi-partisan probe in Parliament. He was exonerated.
Again, allegations made against former Chief Executive Officer of BOST, Alfred Obeng, to those leveled against the two Deputy Chiefs of Staff, and against the then Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports, Pius Enam Hadzide, and the Board Chairman of the National Sports Authority, Kwadwo Baah, were investigated by the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service.
Additionally, claims of extortion against the Trade Minister were investigated by a bi-partisan Committee of Parliament, for which Alan Kyerematen was also exonerated.
President Akufo-Addo indicated that “they have all been investigated, and no evidence has been adduced to suggest mildly the perpetration of any act of corruption”.
Source: 3news.com| Ghana