Corruption in Ghana: The President is either Delusional or in Denial

It was extremely shocking to learn that, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of orchestrating politically motivated campaign to label his government, family and himself as corrupt. With all due respect and humility, I honestly and genuinely believe President Akufo-Addo is either deluded or he is committing a “crime of denial”.

The President whiles addressing the Ghana Bar Association is reported to have interestingly claimed that, the corruption allegations against his government and family are a form of retaliation from the NDC. If indeed, the President made these comments, then it explains why corruption has been normalised under this administration. Because, as long as the leader of the government does not acknowledge the existence of corruption, how then can we expect him to fight it, after all, he believes it does not exist.

This is serious and injurious to our collective fight against corruption which is currently the major problem affecting the progress of this country. In August 2022, Mr Richard Quason, Deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ, stated that endemic corruption swallows on the average about 20 per cent of Ghana’s national budget annually. The amount represented over 300 per cent of all aid Ghana receives yearly and it translates into 25 per cent of 2016 annual budget estimate for foreign aids.

Under the current administration, there has been a plethora of corrupt practices on weekly basis, therefore the President’s statement has the propensity to demoralise all stakeholders working hard to minimise, if not eradicate the menace. The President's own Cousin Ken Ofori-Atta who was the Minister of Finance until early 2024 is alleged to be involved in one of the most dangerous acts where he benefits from every loan to the country.

Is the President suggesting that, the Power Distribution Service (PDS) scandal, Bulk Oil Storage Transportation (BOST) contaminated oil Scandal, Cash for Seat, the SPUTNIK V scandal, the Agyapadie scandal were orchestrated by the NDC? Lest I forget, over USD1 million was allegedly stolen from the bedroom of a minister appointed by the same President Akufo-Addo who is strenuously trying to dispel any notion of existence of corruption in his government.

What about the Australian Visa scandal, the Ambulance Spare Parts scandal that involved the President’s daughters, the National Cathedral, the Kroll and Associates scandal involving Nana Yaw Osafo-Maafo, the senior minister in the President’s government, the 500 missing excavators, the contracts for sale. Is the President telling us that, these were all fabricated by the NDC?

Respectfully, let the President be reminded that, executives of his political party and his appointees are alleged to be involved in illegal mining in this country, polluting and destroying our water bodies and degrading our precious forests for their individual benefits. If this is not corruption, then corruption requires a new definition. It has been alleged that, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the President’s political party the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Bernard Antwi-Bosiako (Chairman Wontumi), National women organiser of the NPP Kate Gyamfua, former General Secretary of the NPP, John Buadu, the Mayor of Kumasi Sam Pyne, who was appointed by the President and several other Parliamentarians and Parliamentary candidates from the NPP are all involved in illegal mining.

Is the President saying he is oblivious to the unprecedented level of state capture by his own appointees? The deliberate devaluation of state assets in order to be sold to government officials at very cheap prices were not orchestrated by the NDC.

In any case, was it not President Akufo-Addo who whiles in opposition promised Ghanaians to fight corruption with the Anass’ principle, what happened to this promise?

When those entrusted with the power and resources to fight corruption turn around to deny its existence, it kills the keenness and determination of all well-meaning Ghanaians in this important fight against corruption.

This see no evil, hear no evil attitude of the President and his Vice Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia towards corruption has emboldened the appointees of this government to engage in acts of corruption with impunity, because the President himself does not acknowledge the problem, needless to say fight it, this is disheartening and unfortunate, no wonder we are where we are.