Akufo-Addo’s pledge to fight corruption doubtful – Azeem

Anti-corruption campaigner, Vitus Azeem has said the apparent lack of action by the Akufo Addo led-government to act on corruption makes its resolve to fight graft doubtful.

According to him, the government after almost eleven months in power has not been seen taking action against any persons suspected to have engaged in corrupt deals.

The New Patriotic Party(NPP) while in opposition accused the erstwhile John Mahama administration of being corrupt.

Government had announced an October timeline to commence prosecution of corruption cases which has expired with not a single case being taken to court.

Vice President DrMahamudu Bawumia at an event yesterday indicated that very soon Ghanaians will begin to see action against persons who have caused financial loss to the state.

But speaking to Starr News, the former Executive Director of Anti -corruption body, Ghana Integrity Initiative, Vitus Azeem said the government must begin to walk the talk on its pledge to fight against graft.

“This government announced that in October they were going to start prosecuting people, we’re in November…almost half of November we’re not hearing anything. I’ve said that you don’t say that you want to prosecute past public officials, you want to prosecute corrupt officials including your own. Otherwise you can never be serious with the fight against corruption.”

He added: “It is wrong because if you tell us that you’re just going to look at corrupt past public officials, how about you yourself. If your own people are getting involved it means that it doesn’t matter, the proper approach will be that you’ll target all corrupt public officials. If there’s credible allegation against any public official, you’ll carryout the necessary investigation and if they’re found culpable you deal with them according to the law,” Vitus Azeem said.