Physician and political activist Dr. Arthur Kennedy has urged President John Dramani Mahama to take decisive action on accountability, warning that failure to act could set a dangerous precedent for future leaders.

Speaking on JoyNews' Newsfile on Saturday, March 8, Dr. Kennedy stressed that the time for political rhetoric is over and that the government must ensure those responsible for financial mismanagement and corruption face consequences.

He warned that if decisive action is not taken, Mahama’s presidency could end up being characterised by mere talk, with little concrete action against those who mismanaged the economy.

"I fear that in four years, we will realise that most of the people who ran the country into the ground were never held accountable. That would be sad because it would signal to future leaders that they, too, can get away with corruption," he cautioned.

"The campaign is over. At this stage, we should be executing and demanding accountability. We need to put people in the docks to answer questions—why was this done? Why was that done? And at the end of the day, some people must be punished," he added.

He suggested that if action is not taken now, even members of Operation Recover All Loots (ORAL), the government’s anti-corruption task force, may not be entirely free from corruption.

While acknowledging President Mahama’s strong speech at the National Economic Dialogue, Dr. Kennedy stressed that a president’s legacy is defined by action, not just words.

"Talk is good. He talks well. But a president's legacy is based on what he does, not just on what he says. He needs to do things," he advised.

He further cited concerns over issues such as the Bank of Ghana’s headquarters project, whose costs have reportedly tripled, and the banking sector reforms that led to the closure of several banks. According to him, there is a troubling lack of scrutiny on these matters.

His remarks add to growing calls for President Mahama to take a firmer stance on corruption and accountability as his administration moves forward.