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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.
What was supposed to give another dimension to Ghana’s growing creative industry has ignited the anger of a section of the clergy.
Championing the call for an investigation into how ‘law breakers’ enjoyed police protection is the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference (GCBC) who described the maiden ‘Karnival Kingdom Festival’ on April 22-28, 2026 as an ‘eyesore’.
In the view of the conference, the provision of police protection for acts that breached the criminal code represents a serious failure of official duty.
The event turned parts of the city of Accra into an ultimate ‘Soca paradise,’ as carnival enthusiasts from around the world joined Ghanaians for an unforgettable fusion of lively music, epicparties, and deep cultural connection.
Organisers of the event described the Karnival Kingdom Festival as “not just another destination event; but a bold new premium experience that redefines what it means to celebrate. At its core, it’s about reconnecting with the motherland, bringing carnival culture back to the place where its spirit was born. From the rhythmic heartbeat of the drums to the colours of mothers, this is a return to source, a celebration of heritage, and a unifying call to joy.”
But in the eyes of the Bishops, what was seen and paraded on the streets was ‘sacrilege’, “denigrating our values as a nation and breached the laws of our land (CF section 278 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960, Act 29).”
In response, its widely publicised statement took note of the public nudity at the festival during which participants received police protection.
The statement signed by Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, Bishop of Sunyani and President of the Conference demanded for investigation and unequivocally condemn the act of public nudity.
“We call for immediate investigation into the role of state institutions, and the importation of foreign cultural practices. The presence of police protection for participants raises serious questions about official oversight.”
It said the event reflects a clash between globalised festival culture and Ghana’s established legal standards, adding that, “An imported event cannot claim exemption from Ghanaian law. Cultural exchange must respect the host nation’s laws and values.”
Raising issues about governance, the Bishops questioned which agencies issued permits and the deployment of police to protect participants engaged in public nudity and wondered why state agencies responsible for protecting public order may have facilitated rather than prevented the misconduct.
The Conference urges all parties to allow the investigative process to proceed without undue political pressure.
As a result, it recommended a thorough impartial investigation with public findings; review of permit processes with clear decency guidelines; an inquiry into why police protection was provided; and a national dialogue on limits of cultural expression in public spaces.
The conference also commended the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin South, Mr John Ntim Fordjour, for his call in this direction.
By Andrew Nortey
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
