Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has thrown her full support behind growing calls for a legal framework to hold public and private officials accountable for unexplained wealth, reinforcing the Mahama-led administration’s resolve to intensify the fight against corruption.
Speaking at a public forum in Accra, the Vice President announced the government’s intention to table the revised Conduct of Public Officers Bill in Parliament, emphasizing its central role in restoring integrity and transparency in public service.
“The revised Conduct of Public Officers Bill will contain the views of CSOs, anti-corruption institutions, the media, the international community and all relevant stakeholders to ensure that this bill stands the test of time,” she affirmed.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang stressed that the bill would not only criminalize the possession of wealth beyond one’s known lawful income but also strengthen oversight mechanisms to investigate such discrepancies. Her remarks come amid increasing public concern over the accumulation of unexplained wealth among officials in both the public and private sectors.
Beyond legislative action, the Vice President underscored the urgent need for financial independence of anti-corruption agencies, warning that underfunding undermines their effectiveness and leaves them vulnerable to political manipulation.
“We must ensure also that we have sustainable financing for anti-corruption institutions to reduce the influence and enhance independence,” she stated.
The Conduct of Public Officers Bill, originally introduced under the previous NDC administration, has been undergoing revisions to incorporate wider stakeholder feedback. Its reintroduction is expected to spark intense debate in Parliament in the coming weeks, as Ghana intensifies efforts to entrench a culture of accountability and transparency across all sectors of governance.
Observers see the Vice President’s statement as a clear indication of the incoming administration’s commitment to institutional reforms in the fight against graft.
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