Bold claim: the delay in jailing so-called thieves from the previous government is eating away at Ghana’s democracy. Divine Nkrumah, the Director of Operations for the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), says that even with some wins under the current administration, the state still hasn’t made corruption a top priority—especially when it comes to arresting and prosecuting former appointees alleged to have misused state resources.
Nkrumah voices strong frustration with the legal protections that seem to shield those accused of corruption. He finds it “disgusting” that the presumption of innocence is used as a shield, particularly when those individuals are free to criticise the government while the public waits for accountability.
He points to the Auditor-General’s annual reports, which routinely document misappropriation, embezzlement, and theft, arguing that the findings alone constitute clear evidence of fraud against the state.
Speaking on As It Is Ghana via Rainbow Radio (Ghana 87.5 FM and UK 92.4 FM), Nkrumah urged the National Democratic Congress (NDC) not to hesitate in prosecuting— and recovering every cedi misused by former officials.
Patience among the public, he warned, is wearing thin. The slow pursuit of what he calls “organised crime” is, in his view, nauseating and unacceptable.
On specific scandals, he highlighted the National Cathedral project, arguing that funds were misused to dig a “world’s most expensive hole.” He said there has been no update or new information on whether this matter can be prosecuted or whether resources can be retrieved.
Nkrumah also condemned cases where individuals offer to repay stolen funds, calling such offers admissions of guilt that should lead to immediate prosecution.
“In some cases, people have admitted the crime and are willing to pay back. That is an admission of guilt, and we must prosecute them. We cannot allow people to come into office, steal from us, admit the crime, partially repay, and go unpunished. If this is the democracy Ghana practices, I don’t want to be part of it.”
He argued that the fight against corruption must be aggressive enough to deter future misconduct and make public service unattractive to corrupt officials.
Ghanaian impatience with anti-corruption efforts, he asserted, is understandable. By now, there should be multiple jailed thieves. He noted that the very people suspected of stealing are the ones criticizing the government. If the “Operation Recover All Loot” fails, he warned, Ghana’s democracy could be at risk.
Nkrumah also commented on how public discourse should address accused individuals: he would call someone a thief until proven otherwise—especially when someone held a high position and is accused of embezzlement. He questioned whether insisting on innocence until proven guilty should override the public’s right to label suspected wrongdoing, arguing that concealing theft behind euphemisms undermines accountability.
Despite his hard stance on corruption, he acknowledged some achievements under President Mahama. In his view, the president has delivered on several promises—stability in the economy, a manageable number of officials, and the deployment of teachers and nurses.
He concluded by contrasting recent national addresses, claiming President John Dramani Mahama’s State of the Nation address carried more substance than remarks by President Akufo-Addo, which he described as “English without substance.”
