The National Democratic Congress (NDC) says President Nana Akufo-Addo’s posture shows that he is actively fighting persons who are working to fight corruption.
The party says the President must desist from such a practice.
At a press conference on Thursday, November 19, 2020, the Communication Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi said, despite his several public pronouncements about his government’s commitment to fighting corruption, President Akufo-Addo directly takes on anti-corruption crusaders.
“Today, Ghanaians have come to know our President for who he is – a walking contradiction, pretending to be fighting corruption, whilst at the same time, fighting and frustrating anyone who dares to expose or question the stinking corruption he is superintending over.”
Sammy Gyamfi said rather than causing investigations to be done and punishments meted out to persons found culpable, President Akufo-Addo’s approach is rather to “sweep serious crimes under the carpet and declare his appointees innocent even before they are investigated.”
The NDC’s comment comes days after the resignation of Ghana’s first Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu from office.
Mr. Amidu accused government of interfering in his work hence his decision to step down.
His resignation has sparked a major debate on the government’s anti-corruption efforts especially as the President and his NPP government have emphasized several times and touted as achievement, the creation of the Office of the Special Prosecutor to deal with corruption, especially in the public service.
Many have said that the resignation of Martin Amidu is an indictment on the President and the government but others have said such assertions are false especially as the Presidency has demonstrated its commitment to ensuring the smooth running of the office.
Martin Amidu in an interview with Citi News stated that happenings of recent times prove that individuals and institutions meant to fight corruption are being intimidated and fought by persons condoning such alleged practices.
“Anybody who tries to fight corruption must be aware from the beginning, and all that is going on, is corruption fighting back and it is demonstrating that the whole rhetoric about fighting corruption was mere rhetoric,” he said.
