By Bright Ntramah.
The Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition has urged the President to take a radical approach in dealing and fighting corruption in Ghana.
The Coalition said the government must demonstrate that there is a personal price to pay for corruption by speeding up investigation of corruption cases and asset recovery.
The Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Coalition, Nana Osei Bonsu asked the President to lead by example by refraining from profligacy and apply sanctions to appointees who fall foul of the law.
Mr. Osei Bonsu asked the government to take immediate steps to act on the findings and recommendations in the report of the Auditor General for the period ending December 2020.
These were requests made during a meeting at the Jubilee House. The meeting formed part of efforts by the government to engage CSOs on matters of national concern. It centred on corruption and how CSOs can join in the fight. The election of MMDCE, GNPC’s contract with Arker Energy, appointment of a substantive Auditor General, the state of the country’s corruption fight, limitations of the 1992 Constitution, were some of the issues discussed.
Regarding the Audit Report, Mr Osei Bonsu noted that the Auditor General’s Report showed consistent mismanagement and abuse of public funds over the years and the government must take steps to deal with the matters in the report. He said the Acting Auditor General must be given the substantive role to aid in the corruption fight.
On the GNPC- Aker Deal, Mr. Osei Bonsu, expressed the determination of the group to help government to fashion out, “a strategy that falls in line with the government’s objective of value for money’’.
President Akufo-Addo welcomed the suggestions and recommendations tabled by the leadership of the Coalition. He noted that the Auditor General’s report will be given the necessary attention it deserves.
On the confirmation of the appointment of the Acting Auditor General, the President disclosed that his administration has initiated the process expected “leading to Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu’s confirmation as the substantive Auditor General’’.
President Akufo-Addo said his administration will continue to support institutions created by the Constitution to fight corruption.
The delegation included the Executive Director of IDEG, Dr. Emmanuel Akwetey, Executive Secretary of Ghana Integrity Initiative, Mrs. Linda Ofori Kwafo, and Vice President of Imani, Kofi Bentil.