How Africa News
President John Mahama is alarmed by a “false interpretation” put on a Transparency International report, suggesting Ghana is the second most corrupt country in Africa.
Media reports stated that the report put Ghana second to South Africa in terms of corruption.
But Mr Mahama said the claim is false and caused a bad image to be created for the country.
He disclosed this at a high-level meeting on the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan in Accra Wednesday.
“This is absolutely false, and for emphasis, this is absolutely false,” he declared.
“Not only did the conversation [created by media reports] end up misleading the public, it indeed also give our country undeserved negative image amongst the comity of nations and the international community as a whole”, he bemoaned.
President Mahama reiterated, “And it is absolutely
false that Ghana is the second most corrupt
country in Africa, we reject it completely.”
He noted that the report was based on a survey on
subjective views of people and not a research, but
was “wrongly interpreted” by the media including
the state-owned Daily Graphic.
President Mahama was not amused some leading
political figures, including running mate of Nana
Akufo-Addo, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia latched onto it
despite attempts by institutions that sponsored
the survey to correct the misinterpretation.
“What can be the motivation for a section of our
population to be so obsessed with trying to claim
such an undignified title for ourselves at the
expense of our nation’s dignity and our
international image,” the president wondered.
To such people, Mr. Mahama prayed “I leave the
matter to their consciences”.
Mr Mahama also issued a strong warning to MMDCEs
who fail to implement directives on curbing
corruption at the assemblies.
Deputy Commissioner on Human Rights and
Administrative Justice, Richard Quayson charged
public officials to be accountable to the people
they serve.
