Money is not wealth, credibility is – Janet Nabla warns Ghanaian politicians

Former People’s National Party (PNP) presidential candidate Janet Asana Nabla has urged Ghanaian politicians to place greater value on credibility, transparency and accountability than personal wealth, insisting that public office should be used to improve lives rather than accumulate fortunes.

Janet Nabla made the remarks during a panel discussion on Joy Prime while commenting on the controversy surrounding government expenditure on the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa.

The former presidential candidate argued that a politician’s true legacy should not be measured by the money or properties acquired while in office, but by the trust they earn through responsible leadership.

“Money is not wealth. What is wealth is your credibility. What is wealth is your transparency, accountability. These are big, big wealth that when you have it, it helps your legacy,” she said.

Nabla challenges politicians over public resources

Nabla maintained that politicians must remember that money entrusted to government comes from the hard work of ordinary citizens and should therefore be handled responsibly.

She referred to people engaged in difficult, low-income activities, including water sellers and kayayei, arguing that public officials should not use resources generated from their struggles to build personal fortunes.

She warned politicians against treating public office as an opportunity for self-enrichment, stressing that credibility and accountability are qualities that remain important long after a person leaves office.

Comments come amid evacuation expenditure controversy

Her remarks were made against the background of questions surrounding the government’s expenditure on the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa following xenophobic attacks.

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa previously disclosed that the operation, which brought home 1,964 Ghanaians between May and September 2026, cost approximately GH¢49.72 million.

The expenditure has attracted scrutiny from the Minority in Parliament, which has called for further explanations and an independent examination of some of the records. Ablakwa has rejected suggestions of missing funds and has maintained that the expenditure can be accounted for.

Nabla has also questioned aspects of the evacuation spending in previous public comments, insisting that Ghanaians deserve a clear breakdown because the money involved belongs to taxpayers.

A call for a lasting political legacy

For Nabla, the debate goes beyond one government expenditure controversy. She is urging political leaders across the country to recognise that their reputation, honesty and willingness to account for public resources are central to their legacy.

Her message is that financial success alone should not define a politician; public trust, transparency and service to citizens should matter more.