The Founder and Senior Partner of AB and David Africa, David Ofosu-Dorte, has called on political parties to prioritise the issue of corruption and develop concrete strategies to combat it effectively.

Speaking at an event organised by the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) on Thursday, November 14, Dr. Ofosu-Dorte stressed that a serious approach to tackling corruption is essential to creating a conscientious and vigilant public.

“What I expect is that the things they say should focus more on corruption and how they plan to fight it. The more they talk about it, the more the public is conscientised,” he emphasised.

Dr. Ofosu-Dorte also urged political parties to outline specific mechanisms for addressing corruption within their own governance frameworks, highlighting a tendency for anti-corruption rhetoric to fade once parties are in power.

“We are very good at talking about corruption when we’re not in power or when we’re criticising those in power. But corruption often occurs when we are in power, and it is crucial that we hear more about how to deal with it in such situations,” he explained.

He further observed that many individuals and entities align with anti-corruption efforts not out of genuine commitment but rather to gain or maintain power.

To counter this, he called for an approach that goes beyond political manifestos and extends to the private sector, pointing out that significant corruption often exists within private industry.

Reflecting on the broader impact of corruption, Dr. Ofosu-Dorte remarked, “And I think we need to pay much more attention to this because it is part of the significant reasons why the economy is in its current state whether we’re talking about inflation or the dollar exchange. We underrate the extent to which corruption contributes to these issues.”

Dr. Ofosu-Dorte's remarks highlight the urgency of a comprehensive anti-corruption agenda, addressing the roots of corruption across sectors and fostering a culture of accountability that endures beyond the political sphere.