Charity begins at home; fighting corruption should start at the Presidency – Franklin Cudjoe

Franklin Cudjoe, President of IMANI Africa, has argued that the fight against corruption in Ghana should begin at the Presidency, which he believes is the origin of many corrupt and dishonest dealings.
In his remarks, Mr Cudjoe criticised the establishment of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), describing it as a defeatist approach to combating corruption.

Speaking in an interview with Citi FM on Saturday, May 18, he stressed that focusing efforts at the highest level of government would be more effective.

By addressing corruption at the Presidency, Mr. Cudjoe believes Ghana will be taking a more proactive and comprehensive approach to tackling the issue, rather than relying on additional bureaucratic institutions.

IMANI Africa’s President, highlighted several instances of corruption that have occurred within the confines of the Presidency, underscoring the difficulty and complexity of addressing the issue.

“Charity begins at home, and so fighting corruption should start at the Presidency because that is where all the crooked things are cooked. Look at the Scholarship Secretariat scandal; is it not from there? This Ministry of Special Initiatives, was it not harboured at the Presidency, which led to all these dams that were constructed like dugouts and wasted money all over the place. Just take a cursory look at that office,” he said.

Mr Cudjoe pointed out these examples to illustrate how entrenched corruption is at the highest levels of government, making the fight against it particularly challenging.

He emphasised that these high-profile cases of corruption within the Presidency demonstrate the need for a more focused and determined approach to tackle the canker.

“So, even creating the Office of the Special Prosecutor was like battling after the facts were established, and people with deep pockets will fight you because they have made enough money to fight you. We at IMANI say that fighting corruption and waste begins at the Presidency.”