Corruption: Investigation of gov’t officials unprecedented under Fourth Republic – Akufo-Addo

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says the investigation of government officials since the Fourth Republic has been unprecedented under his administration.

According to him, this has been possible because the government has not interfered with the work of the Office of the Special Prosecutor(OSP) over the years.

Speaking at the launch of the evaluation of Ghana’s National Anti-Corruption Action Plan at the Jubilee House in Accra on Thursday, December 21, President Akufo-Addo said the executive never intervenes in any investigation of his appointees.

Citing the case of the former Sanitation and Water Resources Minister, Cecilia Abena Dappah and other government appointees, the President indicated that the OSP has been independent in his work since the investigations began.

“No evidence or allegation has been forthcoming that the executive has made any attempt to influence the outcome of these investigations. The latest episode involving the former Minister for Sanitation, the Honourable Cecilia Abena Dapaah, is evident for all to see.

“I am not aware of any government in the Fourth Republic subjecting so many of its officials to such investigations and enquiries.”

“At the same time, several officials in the previous Mahama administration such as William Matthew Tetteh Tevi, Alhaji Salifu Osman, and Eugene Baffour Bonney in the $ 4 million NCA’s scandal have been tried and convicted of various corruption-related offences and several other including Dr Stephen Opuni, the former CEO of COCOBOD and the Honourable Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority Leader are standing trial as we speak,” he said.

In 2022, the Special Prosecutor charged the former chief executive officer of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), Adjenim Boateng Adjei, and his brother-in-law, Francis Kwaku Arhin, with 18 counts of offences relating to their roles in ‘The Contracts for Sale’ scandal.

President Akufo-Addo suspended AB Adjei in August 2019 and referred him to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and the OSP to investigate his conduct.

Investigations stalled when former Special Prosecutor Martin ABK Amidu resigned in 2020. His successor, Kissi Agyebeng, made the ‘Contracts for Sale’ scandal one of his priority projects since assuming office.

In July 2023, the OSP concluded investigations on Mr Charles Adu Boahen, a former Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Mr Charles Bissue and two other high-profile cases.

The OSP, in its Half Year Report published on June 30, 2023, said the office was investigating nine cases, with 150 others being investigated at various levels of consideration.

The OSP also said it had concluded investigations over allegations of Mr. Charles Bissue using public office for profit.

The allegation was contained in the investigative documentary titled ‘Galamsey Fraud Part I’ published by Tiger Eye P.I. in which the investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, alleged that Mr Bissue had carried out the unlawful act during his tenure as Secretary to the erstwhile Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM).