Corruption battle to be fought on two fronts - Mahama indicates

President John Dramani Mahama has restated his commitment to stem the tide of corruption, stressing that his government will launch an “unrelenting” battle against the canker.

According to the president, government has resolved to tackle corruption on two fronts.

“Firstly, to put in place the measures to prevent corruption and secondly to pursue and punish corruption wherever it occurs.”

President Mahama made these remarks on Tuesday, February 25 when he appeared in Parliament to deliver the state-of-the-nation address.

He pointed out that government’s commitment in the fight against corruption; “has been manifested in the actions we have taken.”

He explained that it is out of that commitment that the office of a sole commissioner was set up to investigate cases of judgement debts.

“We eagerly await his report and we will work with it to ensure that we get rid of this huge drain on our public resources,” President Mahama told the legislators.

He said even before the report gets in, "I have asked the honourable Attorney-General to vigorously defend all actions brought against the state in this regard".

"Government has successfully defended claims filed against government within and without Ghana and, thereby, halting the payment of sums in excess of Gh¢1 billion."

President Mahama observed that the efforts being put into the fight against corruption by the current government, especially with regard to investigative committees set up, is unprecedented.

"This was a departure from the past when other governments refused to investigate corruption," President Mahama said. "We have the courage to investigate and expose corruption. That is not the tradition with other governments."

He said the Attorney-General's Office and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) are proceeding to act on the outcome of the reports of some of these committees.

President Mahama appeared in the House in accordance with Article 67 of the Fourth Republican Constitution. He was originally scheduled to make his delivery last Thursday but had rescheduled it.