President John Dramani Mahama has said his administration will pursue accountability cases on the basis of evidence and due process, rejecting suggestions that anti-corruption investigations are intended to target political opponents.
Speaking at a citizens’ engagement during his Reset Tour of the Volta Region on Friday, Mahama said he had no personal interest in prosecuting people who had not committed wrongdoing, according to Asaase Radio.
He said Ghana’s investigative, prosecutorial and judicial institutions provide safeguards in cases where an individual believes they have been treated unfairly. Those who consider themselves wrongly prosecuted, he said, can seek redress through the courts.
Evidence and due process
Mahama said decisions to bring cases should follow investigations by state agencies and an assessment of the evidence gathered. He said the process should not be viewed as an effort to “hound” political opponents.
According to the report, the President said evidence is weighed before legal action is taken, and prosecutions should proceed only when it is sufficient.
He also noted that accountability investigations can take months, citing the work of institutions including the Economic and Organised Crime Office and the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
Accountability remains a priority
Mahama said his government would not shield public officials from investigation where credible evidence of wrongdoing is established. He described accountability as a continuing priority for the administration.
The comments come amid public discussion of corruption investigations involving former public officials and people linked to the previous administration. Mahama said his government would continue to rely on the rule of law in pursuing such matters.
