President Akufo-Addo has responded to his critics including former John Dramani Mahama, who tagged him as a “clearing agent” of alleged corrupt officials.
Mr. Mahama and many other critics of the president have consistently accused him of shielding his appointees involved in corruption scandals from being held accountable and promptly clearing them of wrong doing whenever they are alleged to have been involved in wrongful acts even before the commencement of investigations.
The supposed conduct of the president, they say, impedes investigations into such matters and smacks of his administration’s lack of commitment in combating rot and its support for same.
But speaking during the commissioning of The Law House, president Akufo-Addo argued that he will not sacrifice the rule of law and natural justice on the altar of corruption fight no matter the criticisms heaped on him.
He said unlike Mr. Mahama who believes that, “mere allegations without more is enough to merit condemnation of an accused public official especially one of my administration. I will not set aside due process and the rules of natural justice on the altar of the fight against corruption no matter how much opprobrium this position incurs for me”.
Emphasizing the importance of the rule of law, president Akufo-Addo told the story of a minister of the Krumah government by name Tawiah Adamafio, who, while championing for the establishment of a special court, had remarked that the essence of the court was to do justice and not law.
But 2 years later in 1963, when Adamafio was himself dragged before same court on allegations of a bomb attack and attempted assassination of president Nkrumah, the rule of law prevailed and established Adamafio’s innocence.
“The rule of law is the best protection of individual liberty in good times and bad times”.
