Franklin Cudjoe Criticizes Akufo-Addo’s Anti-Corruption Efforts

Franklin Cudjoe, President of the Policy Think Tank IMANI Africa, has criticized President Akufo-Addo for boasting about his government’s efforts in combating corruption.

Mr. Cudjoe characterized President Akufo-Addo’s “boastful efforts” as “mere do-little actions” that have had no impact on the country’s ranking on the Global Corruption Perception Index.

For the fourth consecutive year, Ghana has remained stagnant with a score of 43 out of 100 on the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) released by Transparency International (TI).

Released in January this year, the 2023 CPI shows Ghana tied for 70th place with Benin, Oman, Senegal, Timor-Leste, and the Solomon Islands out of 180 countries.

This represents a decline from Ghana’s highest score of 48 in 2014.

However, President Akufo-Addo, in his speech during the commissioning of the newly completed office complex for the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice in Accra on Monday, stressed that combating corruption has been the cornerstone of his administration.

Furthermore, the President highlighted the completion of ‘The Law House’ as evidence of his government’s dedication to combating corruption.

“It is a lie!”, Franklin Cudjoe responded on Facebook to the President’s assertions, adding that, “All those investments you speak of are mere do-little efforts that have had ZERO impact on Ghana’s ranking on the Global Corruption Perception Index.”

“Your best record is your predecessor’s worst!”, Cudjoe stated.

Referring to the President as “my dear friend,” Mr. Cudjoe urged him to refrain from boasting about combating corruption.

Mr. Cudjoe also recalled to the President the case involving his appointee and former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Dapaah, who hoarded millions in both foreign and local currency at her residence.

He conveyed to the President that these occurrences contribute to the “grand theft” of African resources by the political elite, estimated at $4,700 per second.

Cudjoe said: “The theatrical comedy of errors engineered in the case of the missing millions of $$ [dollars] some appointees stash away feed into the grand theft of Africa’s resources, estimated at $4700 per second using 2005 AU statistics.”

“Please let us meet and go over our notes,” he requested of the President.