Engineer and policy analyst, Michael Kosi Dedey, has called for a shift from political rhetoric to genuine accountability in Ghana’s fight against corruption.
Speaking during a panel discussion on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Wednesday, May 14, Dedey emphasised that the political elite must be held accountable for their promises and actions, particularly in cases of financial mismanagement and corruption.
His comments follow news that Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, former Board Chair of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), has been charged with conspiracy to commit a crime, specifically, wilfully causing financial loss to the state.
The charge relates to a $2 million payment made in 2019 to Africa Investor Holdings Limited for a proposed Sky Train project in Accra, which was never executed. The charges fall under Section 23(1) and Section 179a (3)(a) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
Dedey questioned the sincerity of Ghanaian politicians in tackling corruption, citing a pattern of administrative errors and inconclusive legal outcomes that often let high-profile individuals walk free.
“It is about time the political elite begin to ask questions of the people about what they promised and where they wish to deliver them. Let’s not go to court and simply come out somewhere along the line with administrative errors, and the people are discharged.
“You can see that when we got to this Fourth Republic, cases have come up against the political elite consistently. What are the outcomes, and how many people have gone to jail or have been found guilty in these cases?” Dedey said.
He stressed that while prosecutions may occur, the failure to secure convictions weakens public confidence in the government’s commitment to fighting corruption.
“For me, our politicians should be keen to demonstrate more sincerity in this process of fighting corruption. We need to move beyond the rhetoric and demonstrate that we are trying to help people. The issue is finding people guilty, which is more important, so that we can set clear examples for the people of Ghana to believe that the government is indeed ready to fight corruption.”he said.