Renowned Ghanaian economist and businessman, Dr. Ishmael Evans Yamson, has expressed his belief that President Akufo-Addo has not effectively addressed the issue of corruption.

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Dr. Yamson shared his views during an upcoming episode of PM Express on Joy News, in a conversation with Evans Mensah on Tuesday, November 7.

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He discussed the topic of corruption in light of recent allegations of vote-buying during the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) presidential primaries.

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Dr. Yamson, who is a Business Management Consultant and the CEO of Ishmael Yamson & Associates, specifically highlighted Ghana's first President as the only leader who actively opposed corruption.

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He further observed that all subsequent leaders, including the current President, have fallen short in addressing this problem, ultimately leaving the nation in a precarious financial state at the end of their respective tenures.

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“Every leader in this country, by the time he leaves office, Ghana is bankrupt because the leader has been very corrupt. And I am not afraid to talk about this because it's the reality.”

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The octogenarian, in particular, strongly denounced the practice of vote-buying in Ghanaian politics. He issued a stern warning that Ghana's prospects for improvement would be severely compromised if such behavior is allowed to persist and grow, as was witnessed during the NPP's presidential primaries.

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"Helping others to buy our votes will not in any way change Ghana. It will not change this country” he stressed angrily.

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The individual, recognized for his significant contributions to the expansion of Ghana's private sector, also pointed a finger at the influence of political party financing in the widespread corruption within Ghana.

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“This country, for as long as we have leaders who have come into office indebted to people and they have to pay them back, Evans I am sorry. I am painting too bleak a picture, but it's the reality” he told the host.

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When the host, Evans Mensah asked about his view of President Akufo-Addo in the fight against corruption, he responded, “If I mark him [Akufo-Addo] with the same scheme, probably it will be four out of 10.”

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When the host retorted ‘That’s a fail’, “Dr Yamson responded, “Oh yes, because even if you yourself as an individual have not dipped your hands into the state coffers, what about all your followers and what have you done about them?”

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Similar to numerous others, the 81-year-old retired Chairman & CEO of Unilever Ghana, who boasts extensive expertise in business and economic matters, also criticized the President's response to the case involving the former Sanitation Minister Cecilia Dapaah. This case revolved around allegations that she had hoarded millions of cedis in her residence.

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“My greatest disappointment was when recently we had a case about a Minister who had so much money in her home, and the President said he hoped her integrity would be proven in the end. Why would the President even get involved in this when there are state agencies handling the matter?”

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"If you are our leader and you say you trust the person, how do you expect the people following you to go and say the person cannot be trusted; it's not possible. I don't think he [President Akufo-Addo] has been able to stamp down corruption in this country; he hasn't. Because if he has, then all the scandals that come up day after day, why hasn't he taken firm action to deal with all those things and stop them? Why isn't any of his people who have been found culpable not in jail?” he asked.

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