Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has voiced strong criticism against the current administration, predicting that Ghana’s corruption perception index will reach its lowest point under President Akufo-Addo’s leadership in 2024.
He highlighted a surge in corruption incidents this year, claiming that each day brings forth a new scandal.
Mr Kpebu expressed his frustration with the government’s handling of corruption, noting the widespread anger among Ghanaians towards President Akufo-Addo.
“Ghanaians are very angry. I had to leave court and come here. But some people don’t have that luxury but every day when you interact with people, you will find out that people are very angry. They are dissatisfied with the corruption-ridden Akufo-Addo governance,” he stated.
These remarks were made during the “Hands off our hotels” demonstration on Tuesday, where Kpebu reflected on the public’s decision in 2016 to vote out then-President John Mahama in favor of President Akufo-Addo, hoping for better governance.
However, he argued that the current administration has failed to meet those expectations.
“We thought John Mahama was not good enough; that is why in 2016 we voted out JM thinking that Akufo-Addo was better. But now we’ve discovered that JM was way better,” Kpebu remarked.
Kpebu pointed to the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) as evidence of the administration’s shortcomings. He noted that under President Akufo-Addo, Ghana’s CPI score has stagnated at 43 for four consecutive years, matching the lowest point of the Mahama administration.
“Per the Corruption Perception Index, we’ve been at 43 for four years. Now 43 was the lowest the John Mahama administration got. So for four years, President Akufo-Addo’s best fight against corruption has always been at 43. He has plateaued, he can’t be better,” Kpebu explained.
The legal practitioner warned that the situation is likely to worsen in 2024 due to the constant emergence of new corruption scandals.
“Every day, a new scandal. One day, one scandal. That is why we are very angry. We thought he was Junior Jesus and that Akufo-Addo would live above corruption, not knowing that he is the epitome of corruption,” he stressed.
Martin Kpebu’s statements underscore the growing dissatisfaction among Ghanaians with the current government’s handling of corruption, reflecting a broader concern about the country’s governance and ethical standards.