President John Dramani Mahama says his administration will intensify the fight against corruption in 2026, vowing strict accountability and insisting that no public official will be shielded.
In his New Year address to the nation on Thursday evening, Mahama framed the anti-corruption push as a central pillar of his Reset Agenda, arguing that restoring public trust requires firm action and transparent governance.
“We shall intensify the fight against corruption with no sacred cows,” the President said.
He stressed that the resources of the state must be protected and properly managed, noting that economic recovery and social progress would be undermined if corruption is allowed to persist.
“Every cedi belongs to the people and must be accounted for,” Mahama stated.
The President linked the renewed anti-corruption drive to broader reforms already underway under the Reset Agenda, which he said is reshaping how government operates and is beginning to rebuild confidence in public institutions.
“Our Reset Agenda is yielding greater accountability in government and a reenergized fight against corruption,” he told the nation.
Mahama said the administration’s approach goes beyond rhetoric, pointing to efforts to streamline government operations and reduce waste as part of a strategy to close avenues for abuse of public office.
“It is delivering a leaner and more efficient administration,” he added.
Addressing public servants directly, the President underscored their role in determining whether the fight against corruption succeeds, warning that daily conduct in public offices has a direct impact on citizens’ confidence in the state.
“Serve with integrity, efficiency, and dedication. The people’s trust in government depends on your daily conduct,” he said.
Mahama acknowledged that corruption and weak accountability had contributed to declining public trust in recent years, describing the situation his government inherited as one in which confidence in leadership had been badly shaken.
“Public trust had been eroded, and hope was dimming in the eyes of our people,” he noted.
He argued that rebuilding that trust requires fairness and consistency in the application of the law, regardless of political affiliation or status, adding that the reset project belongs to all Ghanaians.
The President said the anti-corruption agenda will support other priorities in 2026, including social protection, infrastructure development and economic stability, by ensuring that public funds are used for their intended purposes.
Calling for citizen vigilance, Mahama encouraged civil society, the media and watchdog institutions to continue holding government accountable, saying a strong democracy depends on scrutiny as much as leadership.
