The Member of Parliament for Sissala West, Mohammed Adams Sukparu, has urged the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to adopt a more stringent approach in combating corruption.

He warned that the current practice of politely inviting suspects risks shielding and dignifying criminality.

Reacting to the recent arrest of former GIHOC Distilleries Managing Director, Maxwell Kofi Jumah, in an interview on Channel One TV’s "Breakfast Daily" on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, and monitored by GhanaWeb, Sukparu asserted that Ghana’s fight against corruption will remain ineffective if suspects are handled with "kid gloves" simply due to their political exposure or connections.

“If you sit and invite them to come at their own time, with their lawyers, it’s as if we’re trying to dignify corruption. Yet, the same system has no problem sentencing someone who stole GH¢500 or a goat to 10 years in prison,” Sukparu stated.

The lawmaker stressed that Ghana's current justice system disproportionately punishes the poor for minor crimes, while the rich and powerful often evade true accountability.

He called for equal treatment under the law, arguing that public officials who embezzle state resources must be viewed as enemies of development.

“These are people who are supposed to manage public resources for our collective benefit. When they allegedly divert millions of cedis, they don’t just steal money—they steal roads, schools, and hospitals from the people,” he said.
The MP cited the deplorable condition of the Wa–Tumu road as a stark symbol of the cost of corruption. This vital route, connecting the Upper West and Upper East Regions, has remained in terrible disrepair for decades, making travel frustrating and dangerous.

“That road has never been fixed since I was born. It should take just one hour and 30 minutes to drive from Wa to Tumu, but now we spend nearly three hours—especially when it rains. Funds lost to corruption could have transformed that road and many others,” he lamented.

Sukparu maintained that the political affiliation of suspects should never interfere with investigations or prosecution.

“Even if it’s an NDC appointee, the same treatment should apply. This fight must be principled, not selective. Anyone who steals from the state is an enemy to our progress," he remarked.

He urged the public to support anti-corruption efforts and called on institutions like EOCO to remain bold and independent in pursuing justice.

JKB/VPO

GhanaWeb Special: The gold market that fuels galamsey