Africa-Press – Ghana. An anti-graft campaigner, Vitus Azeem, has shared his remarks regarding the handling of Cecilia Daapah’s case, implicating President Akufo-Addo of an alleged lack of interest in addressing corruption.
Speaking to Johnnie Hughes and Helen Appiah-Ampofo on the 3FM Sunrise Morning Show on May 3, Azeem criticised the President’s apparent bias in favor of individuals accused of corruption, highlighting what he perceived as a failure of leadership in tackling systemic graft.
“The president is not interested in dealing with corruption. How can you the president be the first to tell somebody that has been accused that you are sure she will be exonerated. And she really ends up being exonerated.
“And your own appointees, those that you have appointed, he is the one that appointed all these three people without going through any transparent process. They own him allegiance, they feel obliged to him, so they do what he wants,” he asserted.
Daapah’s case, which has lingered for almost 12 months without significant progress, Azeem expressed disappointment in the inertia displayed by the three key state institutions tasked with investigating the matter.
“The case is just a way of shelving the matter,” Azeem remarked, underscoring his discontent with the lack of tangible action.
Regarding the response from the Attorney General on the case, Azeem also raised concerns about the origins of the investigations into Daapah’s affairs, pointing out the suspicious circumstances surrounding the seizure of assets.
“What gave rise to the investigations and the seizure of the moneys and other assets? Was it not because somebody stole money from Miss Cecilia Daapah’s house? How can you say that that was not part of the conversation; that was the reason why the conversation even started in the first place?” he asserted.
Moreover, Azee criticised the President’s involvement in the case, alleging undue influence over the investigative process. “The president’s letter on Madam Cecilia Daapah’s case, at a time some of us condemned it and said that it was going to influence the direction of the investigations and it has come out clearly,” Azee lamented.
Azeem warned of the detrimental effects of such actions on Ghana’s governance and business environment.
“It sets a very bad example for those in power or those in government,” he cautioned. “It gives them the chance to act with impunity because they know that the president is behind them.”
Despite his disappointment, Azeem remained steadfast in his commitment to combating corruption.
“Those of us in the anti-graft space are not shocked because we expected it,” he admitted.
“But it should not discourage us because we are hoping and praying that one day we will get a more radical leader that will stand up and say enough is enough.”
Azee further emphasised the importance of continued dialogue and advocacy in the fight against corruption.
“We don’t just talk about corruption, but we talk with the hope that someday, there will be a change in society, there will be a change in leadership,” he concluded.
His words resonated with a sense of resilience amidst adversity.
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