We are not always satisfied with investigations into corruption allegations - GII

Executive Director of the Ghana Integrity Initiative, Linda Ofori-Kwafo has disclosed the displeasure of her outfit at some of the investigations carried out into corruption allegations in the country.

Linda Ofori-Kwafo suggested that Ghana Integrity Initiative isn't always satisfied with the reports detailing the investigations into alleged corruption activities of high profiled personalities and people in authority within the Ghanaian setting.

Despite the dissatisfaction, the Executive Director noted that they are left with few or no options to explore as investigative bodies and governments refer to the concluded report as final position on the matter.

This situation, the anti-graft campaigner insisted, leaves a lot to be desired in the fight against corruption.

"Sometimes when corruption allegations come up and it involves the big people like parliamentarians and the rest, sometimes the report that comes out, we are not so satisfied but who are you? They say that they have already conducted investigations, completed and it's over" GII Executive Director told the gathering.

She made these remarks whilst addressing the media at a forum organised by Ghana Integrity Initiative to put pressure on government to update the public on the status of some corruption allegations that investigations are being undertaken.

The aim according to the GII is to ensure that none of those cases is left to die natural deaths as they have dire implications on the image of the country and influences the perception of people on corruption and governance in the country.

Enumerating some key cases among the numerous corruption allegations that the country has been inundated with, Programmes Manager at the Ghana Integrity Initiative, Mary Awelana Addah cited the embarrassing fate of the Sports team at the Australian Olympics, Jospong's contracts with the Local Government Ministry particularly those related to the sanitation, Double salary brouhaha and the Anas Aremeyaw Anas expose into the Ghana Football Association that led to the resignation of the former FA president, Kwesi Nyantekyi.

Mary Awelana Addah in her address challenged government to make public the facts of the matters and inform Ghanaians of the evidence gathered so far and measures taken to prosecute those found guilty of such acts that have bedevilled the country.

She stressed, "truth be told, it does not portend well the for the image of this country when the outcomes of widely reported corruption cases are never known by the public. These have implications on our image and they also have implications on the various surveys that are churned out on an annual basis particularly on the CPI (Corruption Perception Index). GII is of the view that it is the right of Ghanaians to know and therefore, demands an update from the Attorney General and Ministers and Ministeries which have oversight responsibilities over the institutions where these alleged acts of corruption took place."



GII explained that their interest in fighting corruption is not to get people arrested per se but it is to ensure that there are appreciable outcomes are witnessed.

Executive Director of the anti-corruption body, Linda Ofori-Kwafo established that GII is more focused on ensuring wrong is done away with, money taken through corrupt means is retrieved and offenders made to face the full rigours of the law.

"GII or anti-corruption crusader is not interested in seeing people going to jail. No! We want to get to know what really really happened, what investigations have been completed and who have been sanctioned or what moneys have been recovered. To be frank, we want the moneys recovered more than anybody going to jail. It is not about someone father going to jail, No! It is about the corrupt being punished," Linda Ofori-Kwafo added.

She wasn't also impressed with the posturing of officials in public institutions in responding to requests for information on corruption-related issues.

Linda Ofori-Kwafo established that the fight against corruption will receive a further boost should such behaviours change.