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Ghana’s president-elect John Mahama on Wednesday appointed an anti-corruption task force, part of his campaign vow to tackle graft and reclaim misappropriated state funds, his team said.
The five-member group will strive to recover all public funds embezzled in recent years and proceeds of corruption in the West African country.
The officials will “hold persons responsible for such corruption accountable”, said Felix Kwakye Ofosu, spokesperson for Mahama’s transition team.
Former president Mahama, who is Ghana’s main opposition figure and who tried twice before to win back the country top post, will be sworn in on January 7.
The leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party defeated Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, who represented the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), in elections earlier this month.
Mahama during his campaign said unchecked procurement processes are a major source of corruption, and vowed to make anti-corruption a key pillar of his mandate.
The work group is made up of lawmaker Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, former Auditor General Daniel Domelevo, retired police chief Nathaniel Kofi Boakye, legal expert Martin Kpebu, and investigative journalist Raymond Archer, Mahama’s team said.
Emmanuel Wilson Junior, an anti-graft advocate and lawyer with the organisation Crusaders Against Corruption, hailed the initiative and urged the incoming administration to act swiftly.
“This is a step in the right direction. Ghanaians are tired of corruption being swept under the carpet. We expect this team to be proactive and ensure real accountability,” Wilson told AFP.
The announcement comes amid mounting public frustration over corruption scandals under outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo’s administration, including the $190 million Power Distribution Services deal, which critics described as financially questionable.
Several civil society groups and opposition supporters protested outside the finance ministry, accusing the government of “gross financial mismanagement”, as the country scrambles to recover from one of the worst economic crises in its history.
Corruption allegations also plagued Mahama’s previous tenure as president, although no charges were formally filed against him.
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