Government Spokesperson on Governance and Security, Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, has challenged anyone to produce evidence if they believe a government official was involved in corruption and related activities, yet the President exonerated them.
His comments follow President Akufo-Addo’s assertion that he would not violate the rules of natural justice because, in the court of public opinion, someone is found guilty of corruption before trial.
According to him, the rules of natural justice stipulate that no one shall be punished without due process; therefore, he will allow due process to take place rather than rush into condemning an individual because everyone says so.
Stakeholders, however, have said that these comments do not entirely represent the situation on the ground.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story, Mr Dankwa said that Akufo-Addo’s government has always fought corruption head-on.
As such, anyone with a contrary opinion should produce evidence, and the President would ensure that justice prevails.
“If people have evidences, they should bring it out. Any single person that is named to be alleged to be involved in corruption and corruption-related activities that have not been brought to book with evidence, name the person, bring the evidence and the government of President Nana Akufo-Addo without a shallow of doubt will show no one favoritism to ensure that every single person that is named if there are evidences to prove that they will go to Nsawam and serve their jail term,” he said on June 10.
When asked about the manner in which the case regarding former Sanitation Minister Cecilia Dapaah was handled and a letter from the Presidency exonerating her, the spokesperson said the fact that an individual had money in their homes did not necessarily correlate with corruption.
He stressed that in such cases, evidence must be provided to support such allegations.
“The Special Prosecutor sent the case to FBI, FBI brought a report to state that they have not found anything whatsoever as it relates to a person being involved in, other issues that they are purported that Madam Cecilia Dapaah was involved in
“If you want to prosecute someone you must bring evidence, the evidence must be clear and the judge must be able to convict that individual and the person will serve a jail term," he told host, Samuel Kojo Brace.
Early on this day, President Akufo-Addo said that he would not violate the rules of natural justice because, in the court of public opinion, someone is found to be guilty of corruption before trial.
According to him, the rules of natural justice stipulate that no one shall be punished without due process; therefore, he will allow due process to take place rather than rush into condemning an individual because everyone says so.
His comment was in response to the 2024 flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama, whom he said had described him as a clearing agent as far as corruption allegations against his appointees were concerned.
President Akufo-Addo said although he did not support corruption and its related activities, he would not jump the gun and condemn people before a fair trial.
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