Ghanaians target corruption:

Africa

Ghana’s government is facing growing calls to keep its promises after it won elections on a pledge to stamp out corruption.

President Nana Akufo-Addo and his administration have in recent weeks seen protesters take to the streets to raise awareness about the issue.

In May, hundreds marched on the Economic and Organised Crime Office in the capital Accra with a petition calling for the arrest and prosecution of offenders, and for stolen money to be recovered.

The action is similar to OccupyGhana, a citizen pressure group, which began taking corruption cases to court last year.

This month, the Supreme Court ruled in its favour after it submitted a petition calling on the auditor-general to fine anyone found to have misappropriated state funds.

“If you want to strengthen democracy, you have to strengthen the legal system,” said OccupyGhana spokesman Nana Sarpong Agyeman-Badu.

“If the judiciary is strengthened and we put in more confidence in them, I don’t think people in the executive and legislature can get away with what they do.”

Ghana’s previous government under John Dramani Mahama was hit by a succession of corruption scandals, including in the judiciary. (AFP)

Akufo-Addo