National Democratic Congress (NDC) Deputy General Secretary hopeful, Abeiku Hayford, has rejected claims that investigations and legal actions against officials of the previous administration amount to political persecution.

According to him, public officials accused of misusing state resources must be prepared to account for their stewardship, stressing that political affiliation cannot shield anyone from accountability.

Ing. Hayford said attempts by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to portray investigations and prosecutions as a political witch-hunt were misplaced.

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“The NPP also wants to create the impression that asking public officials to account for the use of state resources amounts to political persecution. That argument cannot stand,” he said on Tamale-based Kesmi FM.

His comments come against the backdrop of a number of investigations and legal actions involving officials of the previous administration, including former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, as well as matters surrounding the National Food Buffer Stock Company and the Cyber Security Authority.

Ing. Hayford argued that where individuals are suspected of misappropriating or misusing public funds, the appropriate response is to subject them to investigations and due process rather than dismissing such actions as politically motivated.

“If people who allegedly swindled or misused public funds are being investigated and made to account for their stewardship, and they choose to describe that as a witch-hunt, then more witches will be hunted,” he stated.

He stressed that the recovery and protection of public resources must remain a priority for any government committed to good governance.

“No one can steal from the people of Ghana and expect to walk away without being held accountable. Accountability is not persecution; it is the foundation of good governance and the rule of law,” he added.

“Under President John Dramani Mahama’s administration, the law applies equally to everyone. Whether you belong to the NDC or NPP, due process will take its course,” he said.

Ing. Hayford called on politicians to allow state institutions and the courts to perform their constitutional duties without creating the impression that every investigation involving former government officials is politically motivated.

He said Ghanaians expected political leaders to protect public resources, uphold accountability and focus on policies and interventions that would improve living conditions.

He maintained that holding public officials accountable should not be viewed as an attack on political opponents, but rather as an essential component of strengthening Ghana’s democratic institutions and promoting responsible governance.