CDD Raises Questions On Accountability Office

The Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) says government must clarify the specific operations of the President?s Office of Accountability. The 5-day old announcement of the Office of accountability had prompted a series of queries from sections of the public who reckon the new office will not deal with the elimination of corruption in government circles.

They?d rather government strengthened the already existing anti-corruption agencies to effectively fight corruption in both private and public circles.

Although the office, according to a government draft document will act as an internal ?conscience keeper? whose activities will create a code of conduct to guide the activities of all political appointees, the CDD?s Associate Executive Director, Dr Baffour Agyeman-Duah says the public must know the exact duties of the new office.

He told JOY FM that the Chief of Staff ought to clarify the mode of operation of the new Office and its relations with other anti-corruption agencies such as the Serious Fraud Office and CHRAJ. According to him, there is a high level of public interest in the new Office because of the perceived corruption in the society and it will therefore be appropriate to explain its operations to the masses.

Dr Agyeman-Duah says the make-up of the Office of Accountability poses some problems for neutrality. He says the appointment of Mrs Sai as chairperson of the Accountability raises issues of conflict of interest. ?The composition of this Office doesn?t help matters at all. The Chairperson is seen as somebody who may not be effective, because of the familiar relationship that she seem to have with the government?.

?You have your daughter working with the President, you have your husband working with the President and the whole issue of accountability is to have somebody who is somewhat neutral; who is not known to be directly related to matters that may arise, so that analysis, perspectives and recommendations can be unbiased?, Dr Agyeman Duah noted.

Mrs Sai?s daughter, Oboshie Sai-Cofie works at the Office of the President, while her husband, Professor Sai is a Presidential Advisor on HIV/AIDS.