Why Akufo-Addo's fight against corruption is a hoax

President Akufo-Addo has earned a reputation over the years as being a man who does not tolerate corruption and other acts that seek to drain the national purse.

However, since leading the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to victory in 2016, he has made certain decisions that put his claim to being an “anti-corruption” man in huge doubt.

The Nana Addo administration has not been without scandals since assuming office, with several cases of alleged corruption being levelled against some of his appointees.

While a few have ended up being removed from their posts, the majority have been ignored as lacking merit.

In 2018, the Eastern Regional Director of the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), Fred Dzeny, urged the government to take steps to prosecute its own appointees if it is really serious about tackling corruption.

However, Mr. Dzeny ended up being suspended, with his statement being described as “unethical” and “unprofessional”.

He was, however, later reinstated after the majority of the public complained about the unfair manner in which he was suspended.

Meanwhile, there were also allegations of corruption at the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), with the then Director General of the Authority, Kwame Owusu, reported to have spent GHc1 million to renovate a 2-bedroom house into a 4-bedroom apartment.

Although Mr. Owusu later resigned from his post, nothing has since been heard concerning his investigation. As if that is not enough, President Akufo-Addo recently appointed him the Board chair of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

This has raised concerns among a section of the public, with the President coming under scrutiny for his latest decision.

This is a man who stands accused of corruption. In fact, Mr. Owusu publicly admitted to some of the profligate spending he’s been accused of, and he has not been cleared yet.

So how then does such a man get to be appointed to such a big role in the space of months?

This decision only goes to confirm that Nana Addo is just a big talker and a man of little action.

And until he withdraws this decision and allows Mr. Owusu to be rightly investigated, his perceived fight against corruption can be termed as a hoax.