Government’s fight against corruption has not been effective – Baako

Myjoyonline: Ghana: Sunday, August 16, 2020.

The Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper says government’s fight to eradicate corruption from the system has not been effective.

Abdul Malik Kweku Baako Jnr speaking on Joy FM’s NewsFile Saturday noted that initiatives established by the Akufo-Addo administration to deal with corruption as it promised in 2016 have failed.

“One key thing is for the administration to accept the challenge that things are not going the right way and that whatever doing is insufficient in curing this corruption challenge.

“Government must be courageous to accept. If you accept that deficit, it helps you to make an effort to cure the mischief,” he stated.

The veteran journalist further questioned the implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

According to him, the law is to make government accountable, however, due to lagging attitude towards implementing the law, government institution still remains a closed book to the public.

“The law has been delayed, we do not see anything, we do not hear anything so then you are killing the spirit of the RTI Act.

“So to be honest, it is a minus there, it doesn’t matter the good intentions, it doesn’t matter the good efforts that maybe under way. We are not seeing the results relative to this particular Act,” he stressed.

Touching on certain deals that have been subjected to investigations under the incumbent government, Mr Baako called for the publications of the final reports.

For him, this will bring about transparency to clarify certain unanswered issues.

Mr Baako enumerated matters including the Australian VISA issue, the contamination of oil at Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company (BOST), the Power Distribution Services (PDS) deal among others to be issues that still need clarification.

He stressed that government must always publish investigation reports and always provide statutory report to clear doubt.

“I sometimes don’t understand the system. Investigations are carried out, but what stops you from publishing it?”

“Make the reports public. Then if there are findings and recommendations seek to implement them. Otherwise, the perception of corruption will remain a reality, in fact, it is a reality. “

He added, “this is because nobody is seeing action.”