Vice President calls for tougher laws, institutional reform, citizen engagement in fight against corruption

Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang spoke at the National Anti-Corruption Conference. She launched a new campaign called “Operation Recover All Loot” (ORAL). This campaign aims to retrieve stolen public resources and promote integrity in Ghana.

She addressed stakeholders from civil society, government, and the international community. Prof. Opoku-Agyemang stated that ORAL sends a clear message against corruption.

In her remarks, she proposed significant reforms to Ghana’s anti-corruption framework. A key proposal is adopting Unexplained Wealth Orders (UWOs). She also suggested a constitutional amendment for reverse burden of proof. This would require public officials to explain their wealth sources.

“We must legislate and universalize unexplained wealth orders,” she said. She emphasized the need to strengthen the asset declaration system. “Our asset declaration regime requires immediate strengthening,” she added.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang noted that corruption is becoming more complex. She stressed that institutions must evolve to address this issue. “Corruption continues to evolve, demanding urgent revitalization of our systems,” she explained.

She praised civil society and investigative journalism for their roles in fighting corruption. The government supports these efforts as part of its commitment to inclusive governance. “Ghana’s commitment is evident in our support for citizen engagement,” she stated.

The Vice President reaffirmed the administration's political will against corruption. “President John Dramani Mahama is committed to revitalizing Ghana’s anti-corruption architecture,” she noted.

She highlighted the need for regulating political financing as a critical gap in anti-corruption efforts. “Political party financing must be regulated through comprehensive legislation,” she urged.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang insisted that citizen involvement is crucial for success in anti-corruption initiatives. “No initiative can succeed without active citizen engagement,” she said.

She concluded by emphasizing Ghana's potential for recovery and accountability reforms. “Ghana has the opportunity to reclaim its position as a leader in accountability.”