Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama has described the fight against corruption in Ghana as “an uphill task” but insisted that his government has made significant efforts in winning that fight.

The president was speaking in an interview with the BBC on the sidelines of the on-going Anti-Corruption Summit in London. He said because of the exposure of acts of corruption, some people are accepting the perception of corruption as a reality.

The president said “one of the things about countries like Ghana is that creating the environment where people are able to speak freely about corruption, heightens the perception of corruption. So it might be that because of the environment in which corruption is discussed, people have the perception that there is an increase in the perception of corruption.”

President John Mahama however reiterated his call that persons who have evidence of corruption or suspect corrupt acts should report to the appropriate authorities to investigate.

He however added that the appropriate state institutions would prosecute every corruption case to the letter and bring those found culpable to book.

He also called for a collective effort from all and sundry to rid the country of persons who deliberately dent the image of Ghana through corruption.

“I’ve never taken bribe before”

President John Mahama in a separate interview on Focus on Africa categorically denied ever taking a bribe.

He was asked a direct question whether or not he had taken a bribe before in his life and the president said “any human being would have encountered corruption in one way or the other. What you need to do is to put yourself in a position to resist it.

“... No I’ve not taken a bribe before.”