Political scientist Professor Ransford Gyampo has cautioned that Ghana’s fight against corruption could be weakened if prosecutions are not supported by strong evidence and handled by competent prosecutors.
His comments follow the Court of Appeal’s decision to acquit and discharge former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu.
Reacting to the ruling in a Facebook post, Prof. Gyampo said the judgment should be seen as an opportunity to address weaknesses within the country’s prosecutorial system rather than trigger emotional reactions.
“The judgment of the Appeals Court speaks to tremendous flaws that should pale emotional sentiments. In a liberal state, optics can’t transcend rules and rights. The proper fight against corruption should be intolerant of prosecutorial incompetence,” he stated.
Prof. Gyampo, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA), said the ruling highlights the need for corruption cases to be built on credible evidence and handled by prosecutors with the requisite expertise.
His remarks come amid heightened public expectations of the Mahama administration’s anti-corruption agenda. Since assuming office, President John Dramani Mahama has pledged to tackle corruption through initiatives including Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL), with calls for greater accountability in public office.
While acknowledging the importance of fighting corruption, Prof. Gyampo stressed that such efforts must be pursued within the framework of the law.
He argued that securing convictions requires more than identifying alleged offenders, adding that prosecutors must present compelling evidence while upholding due process and legal standards.
Meanwhile, the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, has announced that the state will challenge the Court of Appeal’s decision at the Supreme Court, insisting that the appeal is based on legal principles and the need to uphold accountability.
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