“Your code of conduct must have teeth” — Mahama told over discipline gaps

Mr Dadson, a former presidential staffer, questioned the effectiveness of the government’s code of conduct, arguing that it appears to lack enforcement strength if breaches continue to attract little more than apologies.

“The recurrent apologies for misconduct and misbehavior among appointees have become a worrying trend,” he said, reacting to recent controversies involving government officials.

“It seems that the code of conduct for appointees lacks teeth, and those who breach it are often let off with a warning to apologize.”

His comments follow public backlash over incidents involving key government figures, including Mary Awusi, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Free Zones Authority, who faced criticism over remarks directed at the Chairman of the Church of Pentecost.

There were also concerns over comments attributed to Linda Ocloo regarding northerners, which further intensified calls for higher standards of conduct within government.

Mr Dadson questioned the rationale behind introducing a formal code of conduct if it is not consistently enforced.

“This raises a fundamental question: what was the purpose of introducing the code of conduct if not to be enforced?” he asked.

He warned that failure to apply sanctions where necessary could undermine governance standards and damage the administration’s credibility.

“The NDC government’s inability to apply the code of conduct is undermining the very fabric of our good governance system and may cost us the next election,” he cautioned.

Mr Dadson has called on President John Dramani Mahama to take decisive action by ensuring that disciplinary measures are applied fairly and consistently, regardless of political status.

“I urge the President to take immediate steps to enforce the code of conduct without fear or favor,” he said.