The Programmes Officer at the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Vera Abena Addo, has stated that any action aimed at tackling corruption should be welcomed.

Speaking on JoyNews' Newsfile on Saturday, January 18, she criticised those who questioned President John Mahama’s recent commitment to addressing corruption, emphasising that combating corruption is a shared responsibility between citizens and institutions.

She highlighted that every citizen plays a role in the fight against corruption, even without the formation of formal committees.

“Each of us has a responsibility to engage in citizen action to fight corruption, hold public officials accountable, and guard against waste,” she said.

She also acknowledged the essential role of institutions such as the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), all of which are mandated to address corruption within their respective frameworks.

However, she stressed that tackling corruption requires more than just institutional involvement; it demands strong political will and commitment from the highest levels.

“While institutions are essential, the political will to take action is just as important. The President’s commitment to tackling corruption is a significant step in the right direction,” she remarked.

Despite these efforts, she raised concerns about the current anti-corruption measures, particularly with regard to asset recovery.

“We need to move beyond simply recovering looted resources and punishing the wrongdoers,” she said. “The question is, how can we ensure that we won’t have to revisit these issues in the future, discussing what the current government might have looted?”

To address these concerns, she proposed an initiative called “Operation No Loot At All,” which would focus on safeguarding public funds from the outset, preventing the need for recovery efforts later.

While she welcomed any action taken by political leaders to tackle corruption, she emphasised the importance of strengthening the credibility and trust in Ghana’s anti-corruption institutions.

Madam Vera reaffirmed that the fight against corruption is a collective responsibility.

“We all have a part to play,” she added.

“The fight against corruption requires alignment between political will and institutional action to ensure that anti-corruption measures are not only implemented effectively but also trusted by the public.”