President orders Attorney-General to prosecute officials cited for corruption

The President, John Mahama says he has ordered the Attorney-General to go ahead and prosecute public officials found culpable of corruption in the Auditor-Generals Report.

President Mahama said this in response to a question from a member of the audience during a presentation at Columbia University in New York City, USA, Monday September 23, 2013.

He was the guest of the President of the University, C. Bollinger at this year’s World Leaders Forum. The programme is in its eleventh year.

“Fighting corruption is difficult, you need perseverance and determination to root it out,” he said.

President Mahama also said the fight against corruption involves everybody, adding that, “You can pass the best laws but those laws don’t enforce themselves, you need people to enforce them.”

He noted that past administrations have passed useful laws, including the Whistle Blowers Law, and his administration has passed the Public Officers Code of Conduct Bill, regarding the conduct of public officials and receiving gifts and so on.

The President indicated that the government has sent a bill to parliament seeking to amend the Constitution to strengthen anti-corruption agencies like the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ). The Constitution currently says the CHRAJ can only investigate allegations of corruption if a citizen makes a complain to the Commission. He said the amendment of the Constitution will allow CHRAJ to take up the investigation of corruption without first receiving a complaint from a member of the public as in constitution.

He also said in the effort to fight corruption, his government will pass the Right to Information Bill and amend the Public Procurement Bill to empower those who are seeking for information.

By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi, in New York City, USA