Ghanaians call for transparency and accountability as the President’s accolades for the ex-Sanitation Minister are seen as an endorsement of corruption within his gov’t – Joyce Bawa

Some Ghanaians have expressed surprise at the decision of President Akufo-Addo to shower praises on the immediate past Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, who has resigned from her position under controversial circumstances.

While the President has not commented directly on the impropriety or otherwise of the Minister’s action after it emerged that she had stashed huge amounts of foreign currencies in her home, part of which was stolen, he praised her in his response to her resignation letter.

The President said “I am confident, like you, that, at the end of the day, your integrity, whilst in office, will be fully established. I wish you the very best in all your endeavours.”

He also said, “It is with considerable regret that I accept your resignation, and I applaud your loyalty to the image and standing of the government.

“The work you undertook during your period in government was excellent and productive, and I thank you for your wholehearted contribution and devotion to the progress of the government and the nation,” he stated.

Already, critics have accused the president of constantly shielding his appointees accused of corruption, to the point of earning the name tag “clearing agent.”

One of the people who is utterly shocked at the president’s comments, is the Special Aide to former President John Dramani Mahama, Joyce Bawa Mogtari.

She says the president’s posture is a tacit approval of the Minister’s actions and by extension corruption in his government.

In a tweet on Sunday, July 23, 2023, she said the president’s comments will embolden other appointees to loot more state resources.

“Should we accept the resignation of Ghana’s #Sanitationminister as the solution to the conundrum of stolen money please! Our president @NAkufoAddo has endorsed this act of corruption by praising her loyalty and “fidelity to” this corrupt gov’t!,” she tweeted.

There have also been several calls on the government to ensure that Madam Dapaah is duly investigated by relevant state institutions to establish how she came by that money.

The acting Executive Director of the Ghana Integrity Initiative, Mary Awelana Addah, says President Akufo-Addo has an opportunity to redeem his image by taking a critical decision on the minister.

The Minister resigned from her position on Friday, July 22, after reports emerged that she had stashed huge sums of money in her home, part of which had been stolen by two house helps who are now facing prosecution alongside other accomplices.