President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has emphasized the need to address corruption at its source, suggesting that the fight against corruption in Ghana must begin at the seat of government.
He says the Presidency serves as the epicentre where all corrupt and crooked deals are cooked.
Suggesting ways to win the fight against corruption, Franklin Cudjoe said that the creation of the Office of the Special Prosecutor in Ghana’s corruption fight was a defeatist approach.
He highlighted several instances of corruption that have occurred within the confines of the Presidency, underscoring the difficulty and complexity of addressing the issue.
“Charity begins at home, and so fighting corruption should start at the Presidency because that is where all the crooked things are cooked. Look at the Scholarship Secretariat scandal; is it not from there? This Ministry of Special Initiatives, was it not harboured at the Presidency, which led to all these dams that were constructed like dugouts and wasted money all over the place. Just take a cursory look at that office.
“So, even creating the Office of the Special Prosecutor was like battling after the facts were established, and people with deep pockets will fight you because they have made enough money to fight you. We at IMANI say that fighting corruption and waste begins at the Presidency,” he said on Citi FM.
The IMANI president’s comments follow President Akufo-Addo’s decision to forward a petition for the removal of Kissi Agyebeng as special prosecutor to the Chief Justice.
The petition, Dated April 30, 2024, alleges procurement breaches in the purchase of vehicles for the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and accuses Mr. Agyebeng of misconduct involving judges and the administration of justice.
Mr. Amidu’s petition includes allegations of violations of citizens’ rights through arrests and detentions, breaches of the right to information, and improper appointment of personnel to the OSP.