The Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) has called on President John Mahama to go beyond public declarations and take bold, measurable steps in enforcing Ghana’s anti-corruption laws, warning that citizens are watching closely and expect more than rhetoric.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story on Wednesday, Michael Boadi, Fundraising Manager of the GII, emphasised that leadership must be judged by its commitment to the rule of law, not by its ability to make speeches.

“It is not about going after the people, but it is about showing the light — it is about enforcing the laws of this country,” Boadi stated.

“If the First Gentleman is not able to enforce the laws of this country, who else will?”

His comments come after the President has instructed all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to comply with constitutional requirements by declaring their assets by 15th July 2025.

Addressing them at an orientation and training programme for MMDCEs from across the country in Accra on Wednesday, July 18, he underscored the importance of transparency and accountability in public service.

Boadi characterised the current period as a critical test of leadership, asserting that the President has reached a juncture where citizens will no longer accept promises without performance.

“I think the President has now come face to face with reality, and Ghanaians are watching whether he will be able to demonstrate — or he will be able to put action behind his words,” he said.

He warned that Ghana has suffered too long from a political culture in which officials in high office are “far more than the actions they take,” and called on President Mahama to break that trend by proving his credibility through meaningful enforcement.

“The President has the opportunity now to show us that he is the man of action, not of words,” he said.