President Akufo-Addo has reaffirmed his commitment to due process in the fight against corruption.

According to him, he will continue to chart this cause despite being labelled a “clearing agent” by some critics.

“There are some who refuse to accept my method of proceeding and characterise me as a clearing agent. Because for them, the mere allegation without more is enough to merit condemnation of the public officer,” he said.

Speaking on Monday, September 11, 2023, during the 2023 Ghana Bar Association Conference held at the University of Cape Coast, President Akufo-Addo addressed concerns about his approach to combating corruption.

He stated that there are individuals who criticise his method, characterising him as a “clearing agent” because they believe that merely alleging corruption is sufficient to condemn a public officer.

However, President Akufo-Addo emphasised that he will not compromise due process in the fight against corruption, regardless of the criticism or the cloud of misunderstanding that may surround his stance on corruption.

“For my part, I will not set aside due process in the fight against corruption. No matter how much opprobrium this incurs for me,” he added.

During his address, the President reassured the public that none of the state’s accountability institutions, including the new Office of Special Prosecutor, have reported any interference from the executive branch regarding their investigations.

He underscored the importance of these institutions in upholding the rule of law and ensuring that justice is served.

President Akufo-Addo’s remarks underscore the importance of adhering to established legal procedures and respecting the principles of fairness and justice in the fight against corruption in Ghana.

President Akufo-Addo has taken on former President John Mahama for saying that he has packed the Judiciary with NPP-aligned judges.

The President said the comment by Mr Mahama is very dangerous to the progress of the country and thus should not be made by someone of his stature.

Addressing the Ghana Bar Conference at the University of Cape Coast on Monday, September 12, President Akufo-Addo said this is the most blazing attack the Judiciary has faced in Ghana’s history.

He thus urged the public to call out the former president for such “reckless” comments that seek to jeopardise the Judiciary.

“I have gone into this matter in detail because of a new issue which has been introduced into our public discourse by no less a public figure than the fourth president of the fourth republic perennial NDC Presidential Candidate John Mahama who has told the world that I have packed the courts with so-called NPP judges and that one of the key purposes a putative NDC victory in 2024 will be to enable him to balance the courts with so-called NDC judges.”

“Not only are these concepts new in our public discourse but they are also extremely dangerous and represent the blazing attack on the independence of the judiciary by allegedly responsible politicians,” he said.

While speaking at the NDC Lawyers Conference in Akosombo on Saturday, September 2, the 2024 NDC presidential candidate accused President Akufo-Addo of appointing members of his party to the bench to influence decisions in their favour.

He thus charged NDC lawyers to prepare themselves to take up positions on the bench to balance out its composition.

“Our lawyers, some of you must be prepared to go onto the bench, I know that some of you have very lucrative legal practices you will not want to leave and go onto the bench. But you can see what the current President has done; he appointed the largest number of judges onto the bench. More than 80 towards hundred and counting.

“He’s packed the court and we know that they’ve packed the court because they want to avoid accountability after they have left office.

“So, all manner of people who have been known to be partisan, to have been executives of their party who are in the legal profession have been leapfrogged onto the Superior courts and other places,” he said.

These comments by Mr Mahama, the President have been described as dangerous and should not be entertained by Ghanaians.

The TEN field, which is “enriched with substantial gas reserves”, is “pivotal” to Ghana’s “natural gas production and the stability of our power sector in the coming years”, President Nana Akufo-Addo has said.

According to President Akufo-Addo, the success of the Jubilee South East Project, aligns with the broader Jubilee field plan, aimed at bolstering gross production from the field’s eastern side.

He said his government is determined to encourage further investments from partners in the TEN field project.

This expansion, he noted on Friday, 8 September 2023, when he commissioned First Oil from the JSE project, will consolidate the government’s achievements in the oil and gas sector.

President Akufo-Addo told the gathering that he was aware “players in the oil and gas sector have been advocating a commitment by the government to consider deploying more natural gas, produced domestically, to solve the challenges in providing sustainable electricity for individuals, households and businesses”.

“I want to re-emphasise our commitment to expedite discussions and agree mutually acceptable terms for a combined gas sales agreement between Tullow, its Joint Venture Partners and the government”, the president said, adding: “This step will pave the way for heightened success and revenue generation in the sector, fostering the use of natural gas for domestic purposes, and the creation of allied industries. Such utilisation is especially critical in meeting approximately half of our power generation requirements”.

Also, President Akufo-Addo said the government’s target to maintain the production of 100,000 barrels of oil per day in the Jubilee South East area, remains well within reach.

“With a collective investment of some one billion United States dollars (US$1 billion), our target of maintaining production above one hundred thousand (100,000) barrels of oil per day from this field, by year end, is well within reach. With some three hundred million (300 million) barrels of oil estimated within the Jubilee field, this triumph augments our confidence in other prospects across the nation,” the president said.

The JSE is being handled by Tullow, in collaboration with the Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC), Kosmos Energy, Jubilee Oil Holdings Limited, and Petro SA.

Touching on local content and Ghanaian participation in upstream petroleum operations, President Akufo-Addo stated that government’s position on local content is not just about supplying ancillary services to the sector, but also having a stake in the resources as well.

“We must collectively endeavour to train our people to get to a level where they have the capacity to be able to participate fully in the industry, and our position is to strengthen all training vehicles in the various industries of the energy sector, like the Accelerated Oil and Gas Capacity Building Programme, to ensure that Ghanaians have the relevant certification to become competitive, and play a fuller role in the industry”. 

“That fuller role will be most effectively anchored when we ensure Ghanaian equity participation in the upstream development of our oil and gas resources”, he stated.

With Ghana being a signatory to the Paris Agreement, which requires the country to reduce carbon dioxide emission levels, President Akufo-Addo acknowledged that it has become imperative for Ghana to develop plans and strategies toward the creation of a net-zero energy sector.

However, he pointed out, “as I have reiterated on previous occasions, whilst working hard to combat the effects of climate change, it is also important to protect our development by making sure that our oil reserves do not become stranded assets, but, rather, a catalyst for our economic growth. Our position remains unchanged”.

Ghana, the president reiterated, has everything going for it as a destination for investment – a stable political system, a robust legal framework, a viable fiscal regime, a good telecommunications system, a hardworking, skilled labour force, and warm, hospitable people.

“I wish to assure the investor community of our continued support to ensure that their investments are safe in law and in fact, and that they are able to flourish in our country within the context of our relevant laws. Our doors are always open for conversations on your presence in Ghana, and I hope the good, warm relations we have fostered over the years will continue to endure in the times ahead”, he added.