The leader of the Union Government (UG), Akwasi Addae Odike, has called for a fundamental change in Ghana’s governance system, arguing that entrenched corruption, weak accountability structures, and poor leadership have hindered the nation’s progress and development.
He noted that the practice has corrupted various institutions of the nation and warned that, without drastic change, corruption will persist.
“The system has corrupted the country itself, the church, the chieftaincy, and other spheres of life,” he stated on Angel TV, following the government’s interception of 12 articulated trucks evading taxes.
Speaking on the ‘Anɔpa Bɔfoɔ’ show, hosted by Saddick Adams on Monday, February 23, 2026, Odike emphasized the urgent need for Ghana to reform its governance system and architecture to combat ongoing corruption.
He stressed the importance of not only altering the system of governance but also reshaping the mindset of the people.
“We need a different approach to our model of governance architecture so we can use it to change; else, with this, we will remain here after 100 years. If we don’t change, we will complain and complain, and we will always come to square one,” he stated.
He drew parallels with China, mentioning that at one point, the nation realised its communist system was hindering progress, prompting it to develop a governance model that facilitated success and development.
Odike urged Ghanaians to adopt a different system of governance that aligns with the nation’s aspirations for success and growth.
“China saw that their communism system is not helping them and they carved their own system, so Ghana we need to also change our system otherwise…, since 1992, everything about the country is moving backwards,” he uttered.
Odike highlighted the need to reinstate the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS), which previously facilitated the clearance of goods and managed tax payments through a comprehensive audit trail for imports and exports.
He lamented the abandonment of such effective systems, asserting that this has allowed technical personnel to collude with government appointees to embezzle state resources.
Source: Vanessa Elizabeth Nkum
