Akufo-Addo’s promise to protect public purse "now an illusion" – Ghana Catholic Bishops ' Conference

President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference, Most Reverend Philip Naameh has called President Akufo Addo's promise to protect the public purse "an illusion". 

Speaking at this year’s Plenary Assembly of the Association in Wa, he said "though poverty stares us in the face, it appears lost to those in power”.

Most Reverend Philip Naameh stated that “the expressed commitment of the President of the Republic to protect the public purse – a promise that citizens welcomed – seems to be an illusion now”.

He asked rhetorically “are those managing the public purse not concerned about the waste and misapplication of resources that belong to all Ghanaians?”

Again he asked, "can this be referred to as irresponsible use of power or the lack of compassion and empathy?”

The cleric said, “those who are entrusted with power that comes from our collective will, must know that, what they do with it, shapes what we all will become in future”.

Citing a post-election report by the Centre for Democratic Development Ghana’s Afrobarometer in August 2021 which states that Ghanaians are split in their opinions on the Akufo-Addo government’s ability to ensure that rule of law is upheld. The majority of about 62 per cent, however, are not confident in the President and his government's ability to protect the country’s financial resources and curb corruption in the next four years.

Meanwhile, President Nana Akufo-Addo said in May this year that his government has achieved a lot in terms of fighting corruption.

In an interview with CNN on 3 May 2021, President Akufo-Addo said he was content with the progress he has made. In his view, Ghana’s anti-corruption ranking has “gone up several notches.”

The President of Ghana expressed satisfaction at his fight against corruption and added that  “a lot has been done, and it is reflected in Ghana’s growing position and rankings of corruption in the world”.

Abdul Sammed