Judiciary urged to expedite corruption cases

Investigative journalist and anti-corruption activist Mr Manasseh Azure Awuni has urged the judiciary to prioritize and speed up corruption cases. He stated that individuals accused of public theft should not be allowed to use legal loopholes to delay trials, hoping for a change in government to halt such cases. Speaking at the Asogli State’s Choral and Anti-corruption Day Celebration in Ho, Mr Awuni challenged the judiciary to eliminate corruption to effectively lead the national anti-graft campaign.

He pointed out that wealthy individuals often attempt to bribe actors across the accountability chain to cover up their embezzlement of state funds. Calling on law enforcement agencies to fulfill their duties and suggesting measures to make corruption unattractive, Awuni commended Togbe Afede XIV for instituting the anti-corruption day to raise awareness about the harmful effects of graft on national development.

He cautioned traditional leaders against protecting corrupt officials and highlighted the importance of integrity in families, suggesting that those raised with integrity are more likely to serve the public honestly. While recognizing that no nation has entirely eradicated corruption, Awuni emphasized that countries have managed to prevent it from ruining their citizens' lives and called on all Ghanaians to actively participate in the fight against corruption.

Togbe Afede XIV, the Agbogbomefia of Asogli State, acknowledged corruption as the biggest obstacle to Ghana's socio-economic development. He recalled a time when corruption was virtually unknown in the Gold Coast but lamented how post-independence Ghana had normalized it, hindering national progress. The Agbogbomefia affirmed that the Asogli Anti-corruption Day was established to create widespread awareness of the structural damage caused by graft and reiterated his commitment to maintaining the campaign to prevent the erosion of developmental gains.

Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) Board Chairman Daniel Domelevo stressed that no country could achieve meaningful, long-term socio-economic progress without addressing corruption.