The National Coordinator for the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, has called on politicians to embrace a proactive manner to indicate their interest in tackling issues of public interest over their personal gains as a way to cleanse themselves and the political system of corrupt practices, arguing that growing public distrust has undermined Ghana’s democracy and governance structures.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Thursday, May 1, Vanderpuye urged political actors to reflect on their actions and the growing perception of corruption within the political space, stressing that public confidence in governance is deteriorating.
“I think there must be a time to avoid the situation whereby people lose credibility in the political system and the democratic system, which will give room for some unwanted and some unwarranted, unnecessary adversaries,” he stated.
He highlighted that the growing disillusionment among citizens was not only a threat to democratic stability but could invite disruptive forces if politicians did not act to restore faith in the system.
“It is time for us to sanitise ourselves and the system, to get people to have a different perception about us who are on the field and within the political space. We have to know that you get so many opportunities in political office to advance your life. You need not get corrupted to be able to get those things that you need,” Vanderpuye said.
His comments follow a revelation by the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, that Ghana Water Limited (GWL) had paid a monthly amount of GHS1.5 million to the former Director-General of the National Signals Bureau, Kwabena Adu Boahen, an arrangement that became central to his recent arrest.
According to Dr. Ayine, the payments were made under a contract between GWL and the former Bureau of National Communications (now the National Signals Bureau) for secure internet services, raising questions about transparency and accountability in public contracts.
Though Vanderpuye did not directly comment on the ongoing investigation, his remarks appeared to respond to the broader wave of public concern following the exposé.