General News of Monday, 9 September 2019

Source: mynewsgh.com

I’m not a clearing agent- Akufo-Addo fights back

President Akufo-Addo President Akufo-Addo

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has shot down accusations of deliberately clearing corruption appointees in his government.

The President believes such accusations against him are unfounded as the agencies tasked to investigate such cases of corruption do their work without any pressure from the executive arm of government.

The Nana Addo administration has come under heavy criticisms in the past few months for many corruption allegations mostly emanating from state institutions involving appointees of the President.

Though most of the allegations of corruption were referred to constitutional bodies for investigations like committees and state anti-graft institutions, all the investigated persons were absolved of any wrongdoing.

The trend according to many Ghanaians and anti-corruption bodies is worrying and hence throws in doubt government’s commitment to fight corruption.

But speaking at the Ghana Bar Association 2019 Conference in Takoradi in Monday covered by MyNewsGh.com the President refuted the assertions of clearing corruption appointees.

“It is not my job to clear or convict any person accused of wrongdoing, or of engaging in acts of corruption. My job is to act on allegations of corruption by referring the issue or issues to the proper investigative agencies for the relevant enquiry and necessary action. That is exactly what has been done since I assumed the mantle of leadership on 7th January 2017. If an appointee is cleared of any wrongdoing, the evidence adduced and recommendations made by these agencies, after the investigations are concluded, are what clear the accused persons, not myself. None of these agencies has ever indicated any pressure from the Executive over the investigations” he said.

The President indicated that the agencies do their work without any pressure and interference from his office.

“None of these agencies has ever indicated any pressure from the Executive over their investigations,” he added.