Tema-Ghana, July 31, – Volunteering information on corrupt conduct to appropriate state and non-state actors can expedite the fight against the canker in the country, according to the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), a non-partisan, non-profit civic organisation.
According to GII, the battle against corruption is a national concern, hence citizens must voluntarily report any act of corruption to the appropriate agencies for inquiry and possible prosecution.
Mr. Michael Boadi, GII Fund-raising Manager, ask “Is the fight against corruption a mirage or reality?” emphasised that whether the fight against corruption is a mirage or a reality would be determined by the citizenry’s active participation in providing tip-offs and avoiding the act.
According to him, corruption is practised across the country, necessitating national solutions, and the country has been trying to reduce the detrimental consequences of corruption in various public and business organisations.
According to Mr. Boadi, “Ghana has made several efforts over the years, including the use of religious leaders to preach morality, the public execution of corrupt officials, the formulation of draconian laws against acts of corruption, public sector reforms, and so on.”
Other governmental acts against corruption, he noted, include the passage of public procurement rules, anti-money laundering legislation, whistleblower protection legislation, financial administrative legislation, and the Asset Declaration Law.
He added that the state had also empowered agencies such as the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), EOCO, and the creation of the Office of the Special Prosecutor, among other critical interventions over the years.
Despite its efforts, he believes the government must make breakthroughs to combat corruption, better the administration of its public finances, and make its procurement system more transparent in order to decrease the massive misappropriations of public monies that emerge following the Annual Auditor General’s Report.
While speed is acceptable, he claims that without sufficient controls, it exposes governments to a number of corruption risks, thereby undermining the effectiveness of their operations.
He stated that corruption is an abuse of entrusted power for personal gain, which can result in theft, waste, and mismanagement of precious resources.
He stated that it could stymie investment, affecting growth and jobs, and that the country’s ability to make corruption a high-risk activity would ensure that human and financial resources are used efficiently to attract more investment and grow the country more quickly.
Mr. Boadi stated that reform efforts and success might be realised through improved and more open processes, professional accountability mechanisms, and the use of cutting-edge technology to record, analyse, and share data in order to avoid, detect, and deter corrupt behaviour.
