Accra, March 29, GNA - The Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) on Sunday said events that unfolded just before, during and after Ghana's recent transition requires that the country strengthens its fight against corruption to improve good governance delivery. The coalition which is made up of various public, private institutions and civil society groups working to reduce corruption, said the country needs to ensure that every government adheres to strict rules and procedures that promote transparency and ensure a smooth transition process.

A communiqu=E9 signed by Mrs. Florence Dennis, Executive Secretary of GACC at the end of a two-day meeting of the Coalition, said successive governments had failed to carry out the measures in a transparent and timely manner and as a result, embroiled the changeover process in needless controversy.

It said the current situation has created a public perception of bad faith and corruption on the part of the past government and one of vindictiveness and vendetta on the incumbent. The GACC expressed misgivings about the timing and circumstances surrounding the approval of the ex-gratia awards and other packages for the President, Members of Parliament and other office holders, which obviously did not ensure the necessary parliamentary scrutiny and transparency.

The Coalition called for the creation of the Office of the Administrator-General which would take inventory of all state assets, irrespective of which government was in power. "It is evident that the lack of a clear-cut procedure for handing over by public officers, including the vacation of their official residences, has clearly resulted in unauthorized removal of state property.

"In addition, the coalition noted with concern, the drastic reduction of budgetary allocations to key accountability institutions, including Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) in spite of the government's avowed commitment to strengthen these institutions to fight corruption," It added.

The GACC called on the government to ensure the independence and efficiency of these anti-corruption institutions. The meeting re-elected Reverend Dr Fred Deegbe as Chairman, Miss Anna Bossman as Vice-Chairperson and Dr Osei Boeh-Ocansey, Honorary Treasurer, for a four-year term.

GACC is made up of Ghana Conference for Religions for Peace, Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice, Serious Fraud Office, Ghana Integrity Initiative, Private Enterprise Foundation, Ghana Centre for Democratic Development, Institute of Economic Affairs, National Governance Secretariat and Ghana Journalists Association.