NDC flag bearer John Dramani Mahama has assured Ghanaians that he will fight corruption just like he did in his first term.
Speaking at Kempiski on Sunday 7th July, the former president stated that he will also put his appointees in check to avoid scandals. He also went further to say that all officials who were corrupt under the Akufo Addo – Bawumia led administration will be dealt with accordingly.
Corruption in Ghana has been an issue in the country. According to Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, Ghana’s ranking in 2023 was 70 out of 180 countries.
Here are some key points about corruption in Ghana :
– The country’s score on the Corruption Perceptions Index was 43 out of 100 in 2023.
– Corruption is a major obstacle for businesses in Ghana, especially when it comes to locally funded contracts.
– In 2020, Ghana ranked 75 out of 180 countries in the Corruption Perception Index.
– Corruption in Ghana affects many sectors, including natural resource management and healthcare.
Here are some of the corruption scandals that occurred during the administration of President Nana Akufo-Addo :
– Bribery among parliamentary appointment committee members: An MP alleged that minority members of the appointment committee were offered the equivalent of $7,000 to influence their decision on the approval of the energy minister.
– Proposed use of the Heritage Fund to implement the free SHS education policy: The government received criticism for its decision to use the Heritage Fund to finance the free Senior High School (SHS) education policy, which was deemed fatal for the country’s future.
– Large size of government with 110 ministers of state: The appointment of 110 ministers of state was criticized for being the largest in Ghana’s history since the beginning of the fourth republic.
– BOST contaminated fuel scandal: The Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation (BOST) was reported to have sold contaminated fuel to an unlicensed company, which allegedly caused Ghana to lose $7 million in revenue.
– US$2.25 billion bond saga: The Finance Minister was accused of a lack of transparency in issuing a $2.25 billion bond, which the minority in parliament claimed would affect the welfare of Ghanaians and was a conflict of interest involving the Finance Minister.
