Audio By Carbonatix
President John Dramani Mahama has declared that members of his own administration will face the same anti-corruption measures as officials from previous governments if credible evidence of wrongdoing is established.
Speaking during the Citizens' Engagement in the Volta Region, the President said his administration's commitment to accountability would be applied impartially, stressing that investigations and prosecutions would be driven by evidence rather than political considerations.
He rejected suggestions that the government's anti-corruption drive is intended to target political opponents, insisting that Ghana's investigative, prosecutorial and judicial institutions provide adequate safeguards to ensure justice.
"I also want to touch on accountability. We do not harbour any malice against any person and, indeed, I do not take any enjoyment or pride in prosecuting people if they have done no wrong," President Mahama said.
According to him, no one will be prosecuted out of political malice or vendetta, as the country's legal system provides sufficient protection for anyone who is wrongfully accused.
"I believe that our prosecutorial system, investigative system and judicial system grant enough leverage for people to have justice and so nobody would, out of political vendetta or malice, prosecute anybody if you've done no wrong," he stated.
He added that individuals who believe they are being maliciously prosecuted have legal avenues to seek redress.
"If you've done no wrong and you're being prosecuted maliciously, the courts will be able to uphold your rights and set you free," he said.
President Mahama stressed that all investigations undertaken by state institutions are evidence-based and not influenced by partisan considerations.
"It shouldn't be like we're trying to hound our political opponents or something. We proceed on the basis of the evidence we have received, and then the evidence is weighed. If it is sufficient, action is taken," he explained.
He noted that not every allegation results in prosecution, saying investigators sometimes conclude that the available evidence is insufficient to sustain a case.
"There are many times we've had evidence and all that. Sometimes the evidence comes and it is not substantive. That is why the whole system of accountability takes time, because you need to be thorough," he remarked.
According to the President, the lengthy nature of investigations by institutions such as the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) reflects the need for careful scrutiny before any enforcement action is taken.
"By the time the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), or another agency comes to arrest a person, it means that months of work have taken place reviewing the evidence," he said.
President Mahama, however, made it clear that the accountability drive would not be directed solely at former public officials.
He warned that members of his own government would face the same level of scrutiny and sanctions if evidence showed they had abused the public trust.
"Like I keep saying, the sword does not cut only one way. If we find evidence that any of our current appointees or persons working in government under our tenure have also abused the public trust, the way the sword is cutting that way, it will cut this way too," he declared.
The President disclosed that he has repeatedly cautioned ministers and political appointees to comply strictly with established procedures and avoid shortcuts that could expose them to allegations of misconduct.
"So I always caution my appointees to be very careful. Be sure you follow the procedures. Don't cut corners," he cautioned.
He further advised government officials to seek collective guidance whenever they are uncertain about major decisions, urging them to refer such matters to Cabinet for deliberation.
"If you have any doubts, bring it to Cabinet. Let us all take a look at it and take a collective decision on it," he added.
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