Akufo-Addo internationally crowned worst leader in corruption – Suhuyini

The Member of Parliament for the Tamale North Constituency in the Northern Region, Alhassan Suhuyini, has said President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo “wears a crown of shame” following Transparency International’s assessment of Ghana’s fight against corruption.

Ghana was recently ranked 80th out of 180 countries on the 2019 global Corruption Perception Index (CPI) with a score of 41 per cent, an exercise carried out by international organisation Transparency International (TI).

Making reference to the CPI on TV3’s New Day, the Tamale North legislator observed the country’s fight against corruption is the worst under Akufo-Addo’s watch.

“The president has been crowned internationally, unfortunately, as the worst president we have ever had in this country in terms of his fight against corruption. The Transparency International is an international agency and according to its report on his performance in the fight against corruption so far is the worst, and that is the crown of shame that he wears,” he said.

According to him, one of the specific instances where the president performed poorly – which influenced the ratings negatively – was in the area of nepotism, arguing that was a benchmark for the assessment.

“Yes, they used the word nepotism, the need to deal with nepotism in government, it’s one of the recommendations,” he argued.

Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), a local chapter of TI, which released the report recommended that “government must take a critical look at elements that promote public sector corruption including patronage, clientelism, nepotism and suspiciously close ties between politics and business”.

He insists the President does not walk the talk of fighting corruption.

“It’s clear he has conveniently or deliberately forgotten what even constitutes corruption and touts himself as being incorruptible and one that doesn’t tolerate corruption,” he said.

But Communications Director at the Energy Ministry Nana Damoah disputed the allegations of the Tamale North MP, reminding him of the controversial Ford Expedition vehicle that was given to former President John Mahama.

According to him, that onerous act of bribery scandal at the highest seat of government was enough evidence of which a president, insinuating Mr Mahama, was not committed to the fight against corruption.

He maintains all allegations of corruption including the PDS deal, the contracts for sale saga and that of the 'galamsey' exposé are being investigated.