General News of Thursday, 28 December 2017

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Ghanaians will see the real corrupt people in 2018 - Akufo-Addo assures

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo

President Akufo-Addo has reemphasised his commitment to the fight against corruption hinting that the coming year will witness prosecution of corrupt officials.

He assured of his government's desire to drastically minimise the canker by punishing those found to be culpable of acts of corruption as government has undertaken audits and investigations.

The president, however, was quick to rubbish attempts by some section of the populace especially the opposition NDC and their Minority in parliament to tarnish the image of his government

Akufo-Addo was optimistic that despite the attempts to label his government as corrupt, Ghanaians will soon witness the real corrupt people in the country who have rigged the nation of its resources.

Citing instances of such attempts by elements within the opposition party, President Akufo-Addo recounted the allegations levelled against Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko that he had bribed members of Appointments Committee to facilitate his approval.

He also made reference to the corruption allegations that hit two of his Chiefs of Staff, Francis Asenso Boakye and Samuel Abu Jinapor who were later cleared by an investigation of the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service.

“After the CID investigations into my two Deputy Chiefs of Staff alleged corruption saga, the Commissioner of CHRAJ who was appointed by former President John Mahama also instituted investigations into to it and cleared the duo.

"They are trying every means soil us but it won't wash,” Nana Akufo-Addo remarked

He also recounted the recent allegation of corruption against the Minister of Trade, Alan Kyerematen, and his deputy Carlos Ahenkora as the latest hoax desperately calculated to stigmatise his government as corrupt.

“I invited the minister of trade Alan Kyerematen and from the account he gave me, these allegations against the ministry are lies. I believe his briefing,” Akufo-Addo stressed.

President Akufo-Addo echoed that he didn't come into government to spend the tax payer's money recklessness or amass wealth instead he came to mobilise Ghana's resources to develop the country.

The President also observed that there are claims that he has stopped talking about corruption in public office after winning last year's election.

He warned that his government should not be tagged as engaging in a political trial when the government begins prosecuting people for the criminal acts committed

He disclosed these in an address to the chiefs and people of New Juaben as part of a tour of the Eastern Region.