President John Dramani Mahama has warned that corruption continues to undermine Ghana’s development, stressing that every misused public resource directly affects essential services such as education, healthcare and infrastructure.

Delivering his address at the Ghana@69 Independence Day celebration on March 6, President Mahama said the fight against corruption remains central to his administration’s agenda as the country works to rebuild its economy and restore public trust.

“Every cedi that is stolen from the public purse represents a classroom that is robbed of textbooks. It represents a hospital that will go without medicines. It represents a road that will be left uncompleted and a young graduate that will be denied opportunity,” he said.

The President explained that tackling corruption is a key part of the government’s broader “Resetting Ghana” agenda, which aims to strengthen governance, rebuild institutions and ensure national resources are used responsibly.

According to him, resetting the country goes beyond addressing economic challenges and must also involve restoring ethical leadership and accountability in public service.

“Resetting Ghana goes beyond simply managing our issues. It involves transforming how we govern, how we produce and how we share the fruits of our prosperity,” he noted.

President Mahama said his administration is taking steps to stabilise the economy and restore investor confidence while ensuring fiscal discipline in the management of public funds.

He indicated that inflation is gradually declining, the Ghana cedi is stabilising, and government has renegotiated parts of the country’s debt to secure more sustainable terms for citizens.

However, he stressed that economic recovery will only be meaningful if corruption is decisively tackled.

“Leadership must be accountable. Corruption is a cancer that erodes the very foundation of our nation,” he stated.

The President said his government is strengthening anti-corruption institutions and protecting them from political interference to ensure that the law applies equally to all citizens.

“Under my leadership, we are not just fighting corruption with words. We are strengthening institutions and ensuring that no individual, regardless of status or party, is above the law,” he added.

President Mahama also used the occasion to reflect on Ghana’s journey since independence, paying tribute to the country’s founding leader Kwame Nkrumah and other past leaders who have contributed to the nation’s development.

Ghana marks 69 years of independence this year under the theme “Building Prosperity, Restoring Hope,” which the President said reflects a renewed commitment by government to improve the lives of citizens and strengthen the country’s democratic institutions.