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President Akufo-Addo Defends Anti-Corruption Record
In a robust defense of his administration’s anti-corruption efforts at the Ghana Bar Association’s Annual Conference, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo outlined the wide-ranging reforms his government has implemented to combat corruption.
He emphasized that his administration’s approach has been rooted in legislative, administrative, and technological changes designed to strengthen accountability and transparency across all levels of government.
Central to this effort, according to President Akufo-Addo, was the creation of the Office of the Special Prosecutor, an independent institution tasked with investigating and prosecuting corruption cases.
He stated that this office, along with other legislative reforms, has provided Ghana with the necessary tools to tackle corruption head-on.
“We have established the Office of the Special Prosecutor, a critical institution in the fight against corruption, and we have provided it with the necessary tools to prosecute those who seek to enrich themselves at the expense of the Ghanaian people,” the President said.
President Akufo-Addo highlighted key legal reforms passed under his government, such as the Witness Protection Act (2018), the Criminal Offences (Amendment) Act (2020) – which elevated corruption to a felony – and the Anti-Money Laundering Act. These laws, he explained, have strengthened Ghana’s institutional capacity to hold individuals accountable for corrupt practices.
In addition to these legal reforms, President Akufo-Addo emphasized the importance of technology in minimizing opportunities for corruption. His government introduced digital platforms to manage public procurement processes, reducing human involvement and, consequently, the chances of corrupt dealings.
He cited the Auditor-General’s 2023 report, which showed a 32% reduction in financial irregularities within the public sector, attributing the improvement to these technological interventions.
Despite these reforms, President Akufo-Addo acknowledged that his administration has faced criticism from the opposition, particularly from National Democratic Congress (NDC) leader John Dramani Mahama, who has accused the government of being corrupt.
In his response, Akufo-Addo defended his administration, pointing out that credible public institutions had cleared both his government and family members of all allegations of misconduct.
He added, “I will leave it to the judgement of the Ghanaian public to decide whether it is preferable to be a ‘clearing agent’ or ‘Government Official One,’” referencing the infamous corruption scandal associated with the previous Mahama administration.
The President stressed that his government’s fight against corruption is ongoing, driven by a holistic framework of reforms that he believes will leave a lasting impact on Ghana’s governance.
He pointed out that since taking office in 2017, budgetary allocations for key anti-corruption institutions, including the Office of the Auditor-General, the Judiciary, the Economic and Organised Crimes Office (EOCO), and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), have seen unprecedented increases.
These measures, according to the President, demonstrate his administration’s firm commitment to eradicating corruption and enhancing accountability.
As his presidency draws to a close, President Akufo-Addo remains steadfast in defending his government’s anti-corruption record, underscoring that the fight against graft requires a long-term commitment that his administration has sought to institutionalize.
News
Ghana-Colombia strengthens ties through diplomatic engagement
In an important diplomatic engagement, the Colombian Ambassador to Ghana H.E. Daniel Garces Carabali paid a courtesy call on the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, at his office in Accra to discuss some key areas of collaboration.
The meeting focused on pressing issues, including security, decongestion of Ghana’s prisons, prison reform programmes, training programmes, improving the welfare of prisoners and enhancing disaster management in the country.
The courtesy call underscores the growing bilateral ties between Ghana and Colombia, building on previous engagements, such as the visit of the Colombian Vice President to Ghana in 2023.
The meeting demonstrates the commitment of both nations to fostering cooperation and addressing shared challenges.
News
Ghana to host African Catholic Journalists from August 10
The Union Catholique Africaine de la Presse (UCAP), also known as the African Catholic Union of the Press, in collaboration with the Catholic Association of Media Practitioners-Ghana (CAMP-G), is set to host its prestigious Triennial Congress from August 10 to 17 August, 2025.
The programme would be held at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Legon, Accra, Ghana.
This landmark event, the most significant gathering of Catholic journalists in Africa, will bring together media professionals, researchers, and experts in digital technology from across the continent and beyond.
The theme for the Congress is: “Balancing Technological Progress and the Preservation of Human Values in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”
Congress Highlights
The UCAP Congress 2025 will feature discussions and deliberations on critical issues arising from or related to integral human development, particularly within the framework of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Some of the key sub-themes to be addressed include:Corporate Social Responsibility in Managing the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Human Values, Deploying AI in Eco-friendly Business Start-ups in Africa: Opportunities and Challenges, Technology and the Reprogramming of Social Reality, Distortion of Reality in Social and Digital Media, Ecological Education and Action Against Unsustainable Exploitation of Natural Resources, and Media and the Promotion of the Recommendations of the Synod on Synodality in Africa.
Participants will include media professionals from both ecclesiastical and lay organisations, media researchers and academics, representatives from the Vatican, government agencies, NGOs, civil society, and the digital technology sector.
Objectives of the Congress
The primary goal of this Congress is to strengthen the capacities of media professionals and educate the public on the necessity of preserving human values amid rapid technological progress. Specific objectives include; Training 100 media practitioners in Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies, with a focus on balancing innovation and human values.
This will include promoting ethics and bioethics in technical research and technological innovations through media.
Advocating for human values such as respect for life, human dignity, charity, solidarity, and human rights and assessing the impact of technological progress to better understand the challenges, risks, and opportunities presented by AI will be part of the objectives.
UCAP is a continental organisation dedicated to promoting communication within the Catholic Church and its partners in Africa. With a mission to foster spiritual growth, collaboration, and responsible journalism, UCAP works to spread the Gospel, uphold human values, and support developmental initiatives across Africa and beyond.
UCAP is an independent, autonomous, non-political, and non-profit organisation comprising African Catholic journalists, communicators, academics, researchers, and institutions in various media fields.
