GII asks Prez. Mahama – Who are the 300 corrupt persons standing trial?

The Executive Director, Vitus Azeem told Citi News, it is not enough for the President to just announce the number of persons who are being prosecuted without further details.

“We don’t know the type of corrupt acts that they are being prosecuted on and it’s important to know,” he complained.President John Mahama on Monday revealed that over 300 individuals are being prosecuted for their involvement in various acts of corruption.

This follows increasing calls on the Mahama-led administration to effectively tackle issues of corruption which has become a bane to the nation’s development.

According to the President, the over 300 persons facing prosecution is an indication of government’s determination to win the battle against corruption.

However, in an interview with Citi News, the anti-graft campaigner insisted that prosecuting little acts of corruption to the neglect of the various high profile corruption cases which have rocked the country in recent times is unfortunate.

According to him, the GII has always “emphasized the high profile cases; the GYEEDA’s [Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Authority] and the SADA’s [Savannah Accelerated Development Authority]; they involve a lot of money.”

Mr. Azeem remarked that prosecuting persons “for Ghs 10,000 or Ghs 20,000 and you count them, that is a bit unfortunate.”

He further blamed the government for failing to update Ghanaians on measures it is taking to prosecute and curb acts of corruption in the country. This, he said, gives credence to the seeming perception that the government is failing to tackle issues of corruption.

“It’s partly their fault. They don’t let us know what they are doing. When you come and just make such a general statement that 300 people are being prosecuted, how do we know whether it is true or not?” he asked.

Mr. Azeem advised that the government must devise mechanisms through which the public will be informed on “what you are doing, how many people are being prosecuted and for what offences.”