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Parliament to insitutionalise National Intergrity Awards to bosst anti-corruption drive
The Parliament of Ghana, led by the Speaker, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin will organise a National Integrity Awards scheme to recognise individuals and institutions demonstrating excellence in the fight against corruption.
The Speaker made this known during a strategic engagement with Ghana’s Key Accountability Institutions (KAI) in Parliament, where he praised their ongoing contributions to promoting transparency and accountability in governance.
Speaker Bagbin emphasized that corruption is a deeply rooted national challenge that cannot be tackled by any single institution alone.
He described it as a “monster” that requires collective responsibility and strong collaboration among key stakeholders. According to him, the awards scheme will not only serve to reward integrity but will also help instill a culture of ethical leadership and public service.
“The time has come for Ghana to celebrate its heroes of integrity,” the Speaker said. “Just as we sanction wrongdoing, we must also recognise those doing what is right. Parliament is committed to walking the talk and partnering with all accountability institutions to make this vision a reality,”he said.
The Clerk to Parliament, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, underscored the need for shared responsibility and adherence to principles of justice in the anti-corruption fight.
CHRAJ Commissioner, Dr. Joseph Whittal, also urged institutions yet to join the accountability network to do so, emphasizing the need for unity and resilience in tackling corruption.
The event brought together key anti-corruption bodies including the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), Ghana Police Service, Ghana Audit Service, Office of the Attorney-General, and civil society organisations such as the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) and the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), along with senior staff of the Parliamentary Service. The awards are expected to become a flagship national initiative to highlight and promote integrity across all sectors.
The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Finance Committee and the member of parliament for Bolgatanga Central constituency, Isaac Adongo, has defended the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Johnson Asiama, describing him as the right person to manage the country’s central bank.
According to Mr. Adongo, Ghana would have faced a difficult situation if the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had not won the 2024 elections and Dr. Asiama had not been appointed governor.
Speaking in an interview with Edem Mensah-Tsotorme, Online Editor for ghanaiantimes.com.gh, Mr.Adongo said the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), including Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, only wanted to remain relevant within their party.
“Well, the NPP and Kojo Oppong Nkrumah have a job to do. They want to remain relevant in their party. I don’t begrudge them,” he said.
Mr. Adongo praised President John Dramani Mahama for appointing Dr. Asiama as Governor of the Central Bank after returning to power.
He explained that the President carefully assessed the country’s economic challenges while in opposition and chose Dr. Asiama as the best person for the role.
According to him, the governor has so far shown strong leadership at the central bank.
“I’m not saying this because I work closely with him, but sitting on the board with him, his leadership is on par,” he stated.
The lawmaker further noted that the governor understands the concerns of Ghanaians, especially regarding the rising cost of living and economic pressures.
He said government had already done the “heavy lifting” in stabilizing the economy and would now reassess some of its policies to reduce pressure on public finances.
Mr. Adongo expressed optimism that the country would not witness the same level of government expenditure from 2026 onwards.
“We’ll go back to the drawing board and consider the fiscal implications of some of the actions we have taken. I believe that from 2026, we will not see the same magnitude of expenditures,” he added.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts has clarified that it did not approve or endorse the recent Karnival Kingdom Festival held in Accra.
In a statement issued on May 7, 2026, the ministry said it did not receive any proposal, request for approval or official communication concerning the organisation of the event.
According to the ministry, it was also unaware of the processes through which the festival was allegedly approved to take place in Ghana.
“The Ministry wishes to state unequivocally that it neither endorsed, sanctioned nor authorised the staging of the event,” the statement said.
The clarification follows public criticism and discussions on social media over activities associated with the festival, including the circulation of what many described as culturally unacceptable content.
The ministry acknowledged concerns raised by sections of the public and various stakeholders regarding the conduct and nature of the event.
It explained that as the supervisory institution for the tourism, culture and creative arts sector, it expects all organisers of public festivals and entertainment events to follow established regulatory procedures and engage the relevant state institutions before holding such activities.
The ministry therefore urged organisers of tourism, cultural, entertainment and recreational events to obtain the necessary approvals before staging programmes in the country.
According to the statement, the ministry remains committed to promoting tourism and cultural activities that respect Ghana’s laws, values and cultural identity.
It added that the country’s reputation as a safe and culturally respectful destination must be protected at all times.
By: Jacob Aggrey
