Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang Calls for Renewed Fight Against Corruption in Africa
The Vice President of Ghana, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has underscored the imperative of revitalizing the fight against corruption across Africa, leveraging Ghana’s experience as a beacon of both early leadership and ongoing challenges.
Speaking at a conference themed “Revitalising the Anti-Corruption Architecture in Africa: Ghana’s Accountability Journey,” held in Accra, she emphasized the urgent need to fortify institutions, laws, and partnerships to tackle the evolving menace of corruption.
Highlighting Ghana’s early commitment to the cause, VP. Professor Opoku-Agyemang noted that the country was among the first to ratify the African Union’s anti-corruption convention and submit a baseline report to the African Union Advisory Board Against Corruption (AUABC).
She cited Ghana’s robust laws, including the Whistleblower Act and the Right to Information Act, as well as the establishment of the Office of the Special Prosecutor, as testament to the country’s dedication to accountability.
However, the Vice President acknowledged that despite these efforts, Ghana has faced setbacks, with recent reports revealing disturbing trends.
“Over GH¢5 billion was lost to bribery in one year,” she disclosed, adding that the IMF had noted a decline in Ghana’s ability to control corruption over the past decade.
She attributed these concerns to weak enforcement and political interference, calling for real change.
The Special Prosecutor, Mr. Kissi Agyebeng, echoed the Vice President’s sentiments, highlighting the mandate of his office to recover and manage proceeds of corruption and corruption-related offenses. He, however, noted that the mandate was limited to conviction-based procedures, restricting the Office’s ability to effectively combat corruption.
The board member of the AUABC, Mrs. Yvonne Mutepuka Chibiya, commended Ghana for strengthening its accountability frameworks and commitment to the state parties review mission.
She pledged the AUABC’s support to Ghana in enhancing and strengthening anti-corruption strategies and governance systems.
Other speakers at the conference, including the Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Dr. Joseph Whittal, and the Deputy Attorney-General, Justice Srem-Sai, emphasized the importance of collaboration and independence of the judiciary in the fight against corruption.
They reiterated Ghana’s commitment to learning, sharing, and acting to re-examine its accountability journey.