Reflecting on the US president Barack Obama's Accra speech in July 2009 gives every discerning Ghanaian a cause to worry. Although we knew all the things he highlighted in that speech, nonetheless his reiteration offered us the opportunity to reconsider our behaviour for instance dependence on commodities or on a single export that concentrates wealth in the hands of the few, and leaves people too vulnerable to downturns. In summary, Obama mentioned four pillars of future resting on, firstly, 'support for strong and sustainable governments'; secondly, 'supporting development that provides opportunity for more people'; thirdly, 'strengthening public health'; and finally, 'the peaceful resolution of conflict'. Obama said to Ghanaians to recognise a fundamental truth that Ghanaians have given life to that development depends upon good governance. That is the ingredient which has been missing in far too many places, for far too long. That is the change that can unlock Africa’s potential. And that is the responsibility that can only be met by Africans.' Furthermore, 'we must support strong and sustainable democratic governments… Africa doesn’t need strongmen, it needs strong institutions.'
Obama further elaborated that Obama said, 'the essential truth of democracy is that each nation determines its own destiny. What we will do is increase assistance for responsible individuals and institutions, with a focus on supporting good governance – on parliaments, which check abuses of power and ensure that opposition voices are heard, on the rule of law, which ensures the equal administration of justice; on civic participation, so that young people get involved; and on concrete solutions to corruptions like forensic accounting, automating services, strengthening hotlines, and protecting whistleblowers to advance transparency and accountability.' Corruption has a devastating effect not only on individual citizens but also on Ghana as a whole. The end result is the current state of underdevelopment and prevalent chaos everywhere. It has given rise to lack of access to quality health care, quality education and potable drinking water to mention but just a few. It also results in shoddy work with its resultant road carnage and loss of huge funds in kick backs and inefficiency.
Obama further elaborated that Obama said, 'the essential truth of democracy is that each nation determines its own destiny. What we will do is increase assistance for responsible individuals and institutions, with a focus on supporting good governance – on parliaments, which check abuses of power and ensure that opposition voices are heard, on the rule of law, which ensures the equal administration of justice; on civic participation, so that young people get involved; and on concrete solutions to corruptions like forensic accounting, automating services, strengthening hotlines, and protecting whistleblowers to advance transparency and accountability.' Corruption has a devastating effect not only on individual citizens but also on Ghana as a whole. The end result is the current state of underdevelopment and prevalent chaos everywhere. It has given rise to lack of access to quality health care, quality education and potable drinking water to mention but just a few. It also results in shoddy work with its resultant road carnage and loss of huge funds in kick backs and inefficiency.
A survey by Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) has found that corruption was a serious problem in Ghana and that it was perceived to have been increased over the last three years, between April 2008 and April 2011. What is even alarming about this report is a finding that Ghanaians who participated in the said survey believed that the same institutions perceived to be corrupt were those mandated to address the problem of corruption.
This is attested to by the list of institutions captured by the report as perceived to be the most corrupt in Ghana. Among them, if you care to know are the ones that have their followers ascribing titles like 'Almighty' -asomdwenehene and religious bodies.That the Ghana Police Service is perceived as the most corrupt institution in Ghana by this GII survey report is no news at all. It is a truism that even the dead knows about this. Please scrutinise the list of bodies carefully and draw your own conclusions.
 |
| Focusing on a different dimensions of national corruption |
The police scored 4.6 out of a maximum of 5.0, the report dubbed “Voice of the People Survey” said. The survey was undertaken in April this year with 2,096 respondents from 20 selected districts from all the regions. The police are followed by the Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) with 4.1, political parties 3.9, the Executive 3.7, Judiciary 3.6 and Parliament 3.3 as the institutions mostly perceived to be affected by corruption.
The survey presented on Friday December 9, 2011 by Mr Vitus Azeem, Executive Director of GII, noted that public and civil servants, utility providers, education and health workers, the private sector, the media, religious bodies, civil society organizations and NGOs followed in that order, as other institutions most perceived to be corrupt.
Mr Azeem, Executive Director of GII, said the findings indicated that Government had not effectively addressed corruption while many citizens had refused to report corruption because they did not expect any serious action against the perpetrators.
The report said the media had an important role to play in the fight against corruption while individuals could also make a contribution to curb the act by condemning and resisting corruption as well as reporting acts and pressurising the government to act on credible reports of corruption.
It said 66 per cent of the respondents felt that greed and the desire for ostentatious living were the main reasons why people got involved in corruption, while low income and poverty, weak institutions and external pressures from family, friends and other social relationships were identified as other factors.
It recommended that effective measures to fight the canker in the form of enacting a few more laws, strengthening the existing laws, as well as the institutions set up to curb corruption.
The report said an effective anti-corruption strategy must include the investigation, arrest and prosecution of persons found to be culpable of corrupt acts thus making corruption an expensive venture.
It said Ghana needed an effective political leadership that was committed to fighting corruption and promptly bringing to book persons found culpable no matter their political affiliation, while stressing the need for more awareness creation on the Whistleblower Act 2006 and how and where to initiate complaints on corruption for redress.
The report recommended a strong code of conduct for civil and public servants and political appointees, especially those in positions which can influence resource allocation.
Mr Azeem, Executive Director of GII, said the findings indicated that Government had not effectively addressed corruption while many citizens had refused to report corruption because they did not expect any serious action against the perpetrators.
The report said the media had an important role to play in the fight against corruption while individuals could also make a contribution to curb the act by condemning and resisting corruption as well as reporting acts and pressurising the government to act on credible reports of corruption.
It said 66 per cent of the respondents felt that greed and the desire for ostentatious living were the main reasons why people got involved in corruption, while low income and poverty, weak institutions and external pressures from family, friends and other social relationships were identified as other factors.
It recommended that effective measures to fight the canker in the form of enacting a few more laws, strengthening the existing laws, as well as the institutions set up to curb corruption.
The report said an effective anti-corruption strategy must include the investigation, arrest and prosecution of persons found to be culpable of corrupt acts thus making corruption an expensive venture.
It said Ghana needed an effective political leadership that was committed to fighting corruption and promptly bringing to book persons found culpable no matter their political affiliation, while stressing the need for more awareness creation on the Whistleblower Act 2006 and how and where to initiate complaints on corruption for redress.
The report recommended a strong code of conduct for civil and public servants and political appointees, especially those in positions which can influence resource allocation.
I feel that in our current dispensation, what we need most is a strong political will as well as a dedicated and strong leader. As things stand in Ghana, to all intents and purposes, the centre is weak and can not hold causing things to fall apart. The executive is seriously indulging ostentatious and profligate expenditure while the woes of the vulnerable and excluded continue to deepen. We need a revolution with the magnitude of a tsunami to overhaul the whole institutional set up as it presently is only self-serving; you scratch my back, I scratch yours while doing the ostrich game of putting the head in the sand thinking and pretending everything is getting better.
Obama told us that 'wealthy nations must open our doors to goods and services from Africa in a meaningful way. And where there is good governance, we can broaden prosperity through public–private partnerships that invest in better roads and electricity.' The premise of Obama’s thinking is that there is 'a direct correlation between governance and prosperity'. .
In the 21st century, capable, reliable and transparent institutions are the key to success – strong parliaments and honest police forces; independent judges and journalists; a vibrant private sector and civil society. Those are the things that give life to democracy, because that is what matters in peoples’ lives. There is one thing that renews my conviction in the ultimate triumph of justice. That one thing is that the young people of Ghana have the power to hold our leaders accountable and to build institutions that serve the people. We can achieve this by rejecting the status quo of the established order that festers tyranny thereby allowing corruption to thrive in Ghana. What have we done differently since Obama's well publicized speech in July 2009 to better the lives of Ghanaians. From the GII list, I am left in doubt that if anything, we paid no heed and as the survey revealed, perception of corruption within Ghanaian institutions has increased over the past three. I am despairing. I cry for my motherland, the land of my birth is bleeding gradually to disintegration under the heavy weight of corrupt leadership. Young people I know will salvage Ghana in no time but the corrupt leaders of today should not blame their coming doom like the Qaddafis, Ben Alis, Gbagbos and Mubaraks on anyone. To be forewarned is ....
Obama told us that 'wealthy nations must open our doors to goods and services from Africa in a meaningful way. And where there is good governance, we can broaden prosperity through public–private partnerships that invest in better roads and electricity.' The premise of Obama’s thinking is that there is 'a direct correlation between governance and prosperity'. .
In the 21st century, capable, reliable and transparent institutions are the key to success – strong parliaments and honest police forces; independent judges and journalists; a vibrant private sector and civil society. Those are the things that give life to democracy, because that is what matters in peoples’ lives. There is one thing that renews my conviction in the ultimate triumph of justice. That one thing is that the young people of Ghana have the power to hold our leaders accountable and to build institutions that serve the people. We can achieve this by rejecting the status quo of the established order that festers tyranny thereby allowing corruption to thrive in Ghana. What have we done differently since Obama's well publicized speech in July 2009 to better the lives of Ghanaians. From the GII list, I am left in doubt that if anything, we paid no heed and as the survey revealed, perception of corruption within Ghanaian institutions has increased over the past three. I am despairing. I cry for my motherland, the land of my birth is bleeding gradually to disintegration under the heavy weight of corrupt leadership. Young people I know will salvage Ghana in no time but the corrupt leaders of today should not blame their coming doom like the Qaddafis, Ben Alis, Gbagbos and Mubaraks on anyone. To be forewarned is ....
No comments:
Post a Comment