Former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Professor Stephen Adei, has proposed that the government consider declaring amnesty for individuals who come forward to report instances of corruption.

According to him, the current scenario portrays those reporting corruption as offenders themselves, being labeled as extortionists.

In order to facilitate a more effective fight against corruption, Professor Adei suggests a shift in the approach, where individuals providing information about corrupt practices are not penalized but rather encouraged through the provision of amnesty.

“If the state wants to have evidence of corruption let us declare amnesty or pardon for those who report corruption and for Parliament to subsequently make a law to back it. As at the moment the victims are equally criminals as the extortioners if they come out,” he said.

Professor Stephen Adei emphasized that the findings from reports by Transparency International (TI) and Afro-Barometer serve as evidence supporting his assertion that corruption is causing harm to Ghana.

“And it is not a phenomenon limited to the Akufo-Addo regime, nor the Ministry of Roads which the Honourable Amoako Atta himself said is full of ‘thieves.’ The recent disturbing new dimension about corruption in Ghana is that, now, in 67% of the cases, according to the 2022 United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime report on corruption in Ghana, the public officials in Ghana demand the bribe bold-facedly upfront.

“That is all I illustrated with the case of the Ministry of Roads because someone that week had cried to me that such a demand was made to him,” Prof Adei said in a statement while reacting to alleged misdeeds against him.

Prof Adei had alleged in an interview with TV3 that he had information to the effect that persons seeking road contracts were told: “Road contracts will be given to you, provided you pay 1 million upfront….”

He said “One of the greatest disappointments of Nana Akufo-Addo‘s regime is that honestly, he raised the hope of Ghanaians. Ghanaians expected they have gotten a leader with a vision, with the charisma, with the determination and it seems if he doesn’t redeem himself in the next 14 months, he would go down in history as one of the most disappointing leaders,” he said.

Responding to these allegations, the Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Attah, took action on Monday, October 23, 2023, by formally requesting the Executive Director of the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.

The Roads Ministry expressed surprise at the allegations, emphasizing that the procedures leading to the award of road contracts are conducted openly, transparently, competitively, and in strict adherence to the law.

“Given that the alleged conduct borders on the commission of crime against the Republic, the Minister of Roads and Highways, Hon. Kwasi Amoako-Attah, has today, 23rd October 2023, requested the Executive Director of the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) to fully investigate the allegations.

“The Ministry wishes to assure the public that it shall cooperate fully and support EOCO in the conduct of its investigation,” a statement issued by the Ministry on Monday, October 23 said.

Contrary to the commonly held belief that he is affiliated with the ruling New Patriotic Party, Professor Adei has explicitly denied such associations. He emphasized that he has never actively sought any position within any government administration.

“First, I have never joined any political party in my life. Thus, I am not a member of the New Patriotic Party or the National Democratic Congress or any other party. Neither have I ever lobbied for any position within any administration. In the same vein, neither have I refused to serve my country when called upon and I think I have the requisite capacity to do so.”

He added “This road contract would be given to you, provided you put one million upfront, not after you have gotten the money. This is what Akufo-Addo must be thinking about and if he knows about it, he must be ashamed.

“That now his people demand from you a certain amount before you would be considered for a job. Why? Because when they get it, whether the government pays you or not they have gotten their money. It is as if people are in a hurry to loot the country before the end of Akufo-Addo’s term.”