21 NDC officials on trial for GHS772m corruption – Akufo-Addo

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said 21 officials of the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration are currently standing trial for their alleged involvement in corruption and also causing financial loss to the state to the tune of GHS772 million.

He said the accused persons are being taken through the right legal processes.

Speaking at the 2019 Annual Ghana Bar Association conference on Monday, 9 September 2019, the President said: “So far, 21 officials of the previous administration are standing trial over their involvement in alleged acts of corruption or causing financial loss to the state amounting collectively to the tune of some GHS772 million.

“Their trials are being conducted in the normal manner, with the safeguards that the law affords all accused persons so that due process is respected. The courts will, at the appropriate moment, deliver their verdicts.”

Touching on the fight against corruption in the country, Mr Akufo-Addo said the fight against corruption in the country will not be won overnight. The President noted that he has put in place several measures to deal with the canker, in deed, and not just in words.

The government has received a lot of flak following the involvement of some of its officials including the former Public Procurement Authority (PPA) boss, Mr A.B. Adjei and some others, in alleged acts of corruption.
The Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Mr Emmanuel Asigri, and his two deputies have been sacked for alleged procurement breaches.

Following these happenings, a former Director of the Ghana Integrity Initiative, Mr Vitus Azeem described the current Akufo-Addo-led government as the worst in the fight against corruption.

“…With every chain of a new government, it seems to worsen, and you can see it with this present government. It was not as bad as it was under Kufuor, it was not as bad as it was under Atta Mills and Rawlings…especially this 2019. The things that are coming out are very unfortunate and should not be happening,” he told Ghanaweb.

He added: “…Now, people are touting the government [as] a One Day-One Scandal [administration], not One village-One Dam. So, you begin to wonder: what is it that we have gotten wrong; why is this happening…?”
However, Mr Akufo-Addo said his “government is committed to fighting corruption not just in words but more importantly in deed.

“Many actions have been taken by this government in dealing with the acts of corruption. “The days when the punishment of erring public officials was a relocation to the presidency are over; where prosecutions are called for, there have been or will be initiated.”

“The war against corruption will not be won overnight but with political will, it will be won,” he added.