President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, emphasized the crucial need to initiate the fight against corruption from the Presidency itself.
Cudjoe argued that the root of corrupt practices often lies within the highest echelons of power, making it imperative to start tackling the issue at its source.
During the interview with Selorm Adonoo, Cudjoe criticized the effectiveness of the Office of the Special Prosecutor in Ghana’s anti-corruption efforts, labeling it as a “defeatist approach.”
He highlighted specific instances of corruption within the Presidency, such as the Scholarship Secretariat scandal and questionable projects under the Ministry of Special Initiatives, which he claimed were emblematic of the challenges in combating corruption.
Cudjoe stated, “Charity begins at home, and so fighting corruption should start at the Presidency because that is where all the crooked things are cooked. Look at the Scholarship Secretariat scandal; is it not from there? This Ministry of Special Initiatives, was it not harboured at the Presidency, which led to all these dams that were constructed like dugouts and wasted money all over the place. Just take a cursory look at that office.
“So, even creating the Office of the Special Prosecutor was like battling after the facts were established, and people with deep pockets will fight you because they have made enough money to fight you through. We at IMANI say that fighting corruption and waste begins at the Presidency.”
In line with IMANI Africa’s stance, Cudjoe emphasized the necessity of a proactive strategy that targets corruption and wasteful practices directly at the highest levels of government.