Mary Addah, Executive Director of the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), has expressed concerns about the President-elect's new committee, "Operation Retrieve All Loot," aimed at addressing corruption-related complaints. Addah believes that this approach is populist and may not yield sustainable results, citing historical failures of similar committees ¹.

Instead, Addah advocates for a structured, law-based approach to fighting corruption. She emphasizes the importance of trusting democratic institutions, such as the Auditor General's Office and the Office of the Special Prosecutor, to lead the charge against corruption. Addah also stresses the need to empower existing bodies, like the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), rather than setting up ad-hoc committees.

Addah's concerns are rooted in Ghana's history of anti-corruption campaigns that have failed to deliver significant outcomes. She warns against repeating past mistakes and calls for a comprehensive strategy to remove legal and administrative obstacles that hinder anti-corruption efforts.

The Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) and the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) are two institutions that have been working to prevent corruption in Ghana. The OSP has a statutory charge to take steps to prevent corruption, including corruption risk analysis and anti-corruption assessment of legislation ². The GACC has been involved in various initiatives, including the development of indicators for monitoring corruption in Ghana and the formation of Local Accountability Networks ³.

In conclusion, Addah's remarks highlight the need for a robust, institutionally driven approach to addressing corruption at all levels in Ghana. By empowering existing institutions and adopting a comprehensive strategy, Ghana can make progress in its fight against corruption.