By Juliet Aguiar DUGBARTEY, Takoradi
The Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) has urged stakeholders, including anti-corruption institutions, civil society and the media, to adopt a non-partisan approach in addressing corruption in the country.
The coalition warned that political interference in corruption cases continues to undermine the integrity and impact of national efforts to tackle the menace.
At a sensitisation workshop on Asset Recovery and Management held in Takoradi, Samuel Harrison Cudjoe, Programme Officer of the GACC, advocated a comprehensive strategy anchored on strong legal instruments, well-resourced institutions and sustained civic engagement.
“Our objective goes beyond jailing offenders; we aim to retrieve stolen assets – what we term the proceeds of crime – and return them to the state,” he explained. He explained: “Sadly, partisan interests remain a significant obstacle. Serious criminal conduct is often reduced to political arguments, shifting focus from the offence to the offender. But crime is crime, irrespective of political affiliation.”
He emphasised that Ghanaians must commit to detaching corruption from partisan considerations if the country is to strengthen institutional accountability and promote development.
Also addressing participants, Leo Anthony Siamah of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) cautioned against mounting pressure on agencies to fast-track prosecutions, especially in complex financial crime cases.
“The wheels of justice may turn slowly, particularly in financial investigations,” he noted. “Tracing funds through multiple accounts and jurisdictions is meticulous work. Reviewing a single bank statement can take weeks. When a suspect operates across borders or holds multiple accounts, the timeline extends further.”
He stressed that while public demand for swift justice is valid, law enforcement must prioritise diligence and procedural integrity to ensure credible outcomes.
The workshop brought together stakeholders from the Western Region and explored Ghana’s legal and institutional mechanisms for asset recovery. It also underscored the critical role of public vigilance and media advocacy in sustaining the national anti-corruption drive.
