A private legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu, has disagreed with President Akufo-Addo’s claim that he refrains from interfering in investigations involving his appointees.
Mr Kpebu contends that the president does, in fact, influence probes into corruption allegations against his appointees.
He pointed to the Cecilia Abena Dapaah case as an example where the President expressed confidence in her clearance even before the investigations concluded. Kpebu argued that such remarks could be construed as interference in the investigative process.
In addition, Kpebu highlighted another instance involving President Akufo-Addo’s active participation in the evaluation of Ghana’s National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP).
The President encouraged institutions engaged in anti-corruption efforts to assess NACAP’s impact on reducing corruption and make necessary adjustments.
Mr Kpebu expressed concerns about the President’s direct involvement in the evaluation process, suggesting that it might influence the outcomes.
“The president says that there is no corruption issue that has not been investigated, his comment is in relation to the Cecilia Dapaah saga where millions and millions were found with her in her bank account and in her house. It is neither here nor there. The BOST one, was he not the one that when a committee had been set up, stepped in and stopped it. What else could qualify as interference if stopping a committee from going ahead doesn’t qualify as interference?
“In Cecilia Dapaah’s case, his comments that he knew she would be cleared was certainly bad for the optics,” he stated in a 3news.com report.
Mr Kpebu questioned, emphasizing instances that he believes showcase the President’s interference in ongoing investigations.
Furthermore, Kpebu underscored the President’s role in evaluating NACAP, expressing reservations about the potential influence on the evaluation process.
He suggested that the President’s active engagement might impact the impartiality of the evaluation outcomes, raising questions about the extent of non-interference in corruption-related matters.
President Akufo-Addo has consistently denied allegations of interference in corruption probes involving his appointees.