I can never be corrupt – Joshua Akamba declares

A former National Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Joshua Akamba, has strongly defended himself against allegations of corruption, insisting that he has never taken a bribe, received a salary as a party officer, or accepted board allowances during his time in public service.

Speaking in an emotional interview on Metro TV’s Good Afternoon Ghana programme on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, Akamba said he has lived his political life guided by principle and sacrifice rather than personal gain.

“I don’t know how I can be corrupt,” he said during the interview.

Pressed further on whether he had ever taken or given bribes, he firmly rejected the suggestion.

“I can’t be. Never be,” he stressed.

While admitting that he had given gifts before, Akamba maintained that he had never engaged in bribery.

“I have given a gift… I don’t pay bribe,” he said.

Akamba used the interview to recount years of unpaid service to the NDC, revealing that despite serving in various leadership roles, he was never placed on salary.

“As I became deputy organiser, national organiser, deputy organiser twice… call anybody at the party headquarters and find out whether I have been paid before,” he said.

The former organiser also shared a personal experience from his time as a board member of the Ghana Trade Fair Company during a previous NDC administration, which he said influenced his decision to reject board allowances.

According to him, conditions at the company were difficult, with workers reportedly going months without salaries.

He recalled arriving at his first board meeting and seeing food prepared for board members while ordinary staff struggled financially.

“When we got there, the place was collapsed, I saw the line of different varieties of food… So I asked the question, who is all this for? They said, for you, board members,” he said.

Akamba said he was disturbed after being told that leftover food was often taken by unpaid staff members.

“They said, oh, you know, when you eat and you leave, the rest, the officers, because they are not paid, they will come and take it,” he recounted.

Visibly emotional, he questioned why workers should be subjected to such conditions.

“I said, what kind of nonsense and rubbish is this? So they should come and eat our leftover. People’s parents should come and eat our leftover,” he said.

According to him, he immediately objected to the practice and later rejected the board allowance offered to him because he felt uncomfortable benefiting while workers remained unpaid.

“The first meeting I go, people that had been working there for months, that were not paid… I come and sit down there, and then I’m given my board allowance. I said, come on, I reject it,” he stated.

Akamba further disclosed that he never accepted any board allowance throughout his tenure.

“Trade Fair still owes me money. I haven’t taken one for the whole period I’ve been board member… Never,” he said.

He explained that his decision was driven by solidarity with struggling workers.

“Because the staff were not paid,” he added.

I can never be corrupt. I have given gifts but not bribe - Joshua Akamba, Former NDC National Organiser#GoodAfternoonGhana #MetroTV pic.twitter.com/5M4UYUNfPW

— Metro TV Ghana (@metrotvgh) May 12, 2026

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