President Akufo-Addo gets tough on lawbreakers

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Monday warned that his government would not provide immunity for wrongdoers, stressing that those who flouted the law would face the prescribed sanctions, irrespective of creed, status or political affiliation.

“I assure the country that my government will not shield anyone found to have broken the laws of this country... Application of the laws of the land must occur without fear or favour, affection or ill-will, and, therefore, without recourse to the political, religious or ethnic affiliations of any citizen of the land.

“When you fall foul of the law, you must be dealt with accordingly, and the law enforcement agencies, including the Judiciary, must ensure this is done. To persons perpetrating acts of lawlessness in the name of being members of the ruling party, let me make it clear to you that you will find no shield in my government from the law,” he cautioned.

President Akufo-Addo gave the warning when he swore into office the new Chief Justice of Ghana, Justice Sophia Abena Boafoa Akuffo at the Banquet hall of the State House in Accra.

He said it was unacceptable that citizens took the law into their hands, citing recent disturbances in Savelugu in the Northern Region, where party faithful prevented a duly appointed and approved District Chief Executive from assuming office.

“I urge the Police to do everything in their power to bring to book all those who fall foul of the law. We cannot have development, which will bring jobs to our youth, without order,” he said.

President Akufo-Addo was optimistic that the Office of the Special Prosecutor, when operational, would ensure the prosecution of public officials, past and present, who engage in acts of corruption and financial malfeasance, saying “it is my expectation that the Judiciary will help facilitate the work of this body.”

He restated his government’s dedication to building a new Ghanaian civilisation, where the rule of law was the guiding principle for the development of the State.

“We are determined to build a new Ghanaian civilisation, where the rule of law is not a slogan, but an operating principle for the development of our State, where the separation of powers is real and meaningful, where public officials behave with honesty and integrity, where the liberties and rights of our people are fully protected, and where law and order provide a firm basis for our social and economic development, so that the dreams of freedom and prosperity that animated the great patriots, who founded our nation, can find expression in our generation.

“All of us, from the public sector, the security agencies, the private sector, the political parties, the civil society, the religious bodies, and the traditional authorities, have a joint responsibility to work together, with our different views and our different perspectives, for the Ghana project,” he said.

The President admonished the entire citizenry to help work and “free ourselves from a mindset of dependence, aid, charity and hand-outs, and rather concentrate on mobilising Ghana’s own considerable resources to resolve Ghana’s problems.

“It is a collective enterprise to which we should all commit ourselves, in unity and in sincerity. For my part, I have an unshakeable faith in the boundless prospects of Ghana’s future and will work for it, the radiance of the Black Star.”