We Are Losing the Fight Against Corruption, Ex-President Mahama Cautions

By Eric Elezuo

The immediate past president of Ghana, HE John Dramani Mahama, has raised alarm on the extent of corruption prevalent in Ghana, saying that the fight against corruption is not sustained in the present administration of Ghana.

Mahama, who has won his party’s ticket, the NDC, to stand for reelection in December 2020, made the assessment in a statement to mark this year’s international anti-corruption day signed by his special aide, Joyce Bawah Mogtari.

The statement tagged 2019 INTERNATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION DAY STATEMENT FROM HE JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA made a clarion call for all to ‘make a determined commitment to take action, as well as lead the change and be the change’

He frowned at the reality that the fight against corruption is not being won, and accused President Nana Akufo-Addo ‘clearing corrupt appointees’, saying the practice must stop.

Mahama promised that with an NDC government in place, no journalist will ever be molested or made to go into hiding for investigative reports.

Below is the full text of Mahama’s statement:

On the occasion of International Anti-Corruption Day, let us make a determined commitment to take action, lead the change and be the change in our country’s fight against corruption and nepotism.

Fighting corruption requires genuine and collective efforts, particularly from political leaders. As we have demonstrated in the past, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will make no excuses in this fight. Sadly, recent surveys are confirming that we are losing the fight against corruption. This is a worry to majority of Ghanaians.

We shall protect the rights of our people to expose corruption and undertake to investigate credible allegations that come to our attention. No journalist will be killed, live in fear or flee the country because of their investigative reporting. We will strengthen and make the anti-corruption agencies work without fear or favour.

If we are to win the fight against corruption, Government must stop making excuses as a coverup for the increasing cases of corruption. President Akufo-Addo’s practice of “clearing” corrupt appointees and hamper investigations must stop.

As we work together towards the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the anticorruption fight will become a major instrument for the achievement of our objectives. Let us take a decisive stand against corruption and nepotism.

I invite all Ghanaians to stand #unitedagainstcorruption.