Mildred Siabi-Mensah
Takoradi, Feb. 25, GNA – Stakeholders drawn from the public and private space are worried about the growing incidence of “paying for employment”, protocols in employment while, qualified and competent talents and skills are ignored.
They also spoke against vote buying by politicians, donations of cash by individuals to fund political activities, sextortion, delay in release of government subvention in the public sector which provides a leeway for servants of state to collect unapproved fees.
Other issues are the trivialization of issues by some security officers when these unethical and corrupt behaviours were reported, finger pointing and victimisation of people who are bold to report corrupt practices and the need to retool journalists on investigative journalism to enable them to shed more lights on these issues.
The stakeholders expressed these sentiments at the Anti-Corruption Initiative for Enhancing Governance and Accountability engagement by the Transparency International Ghana, Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition and the Africa Centre for Energy Policy in Takoradi in the Western Region.
The initiative, engaged CSOs, trade unions, pressure groups to mobilise support against corruption.
Madam Araba Dennis, the Executive Director of the African Women International, an NGO said despite various laws, the country continued to slack on corruption indexes with a recent bribery and corruption survey by the Ghana Statistical Survey showing that people were even willing to give bribes.
The survey established a 40 percent rates in the act among Ghanaians while, gifts to influence was also gaining grounds.
Madam Araba Dennis, expressed concern at the spate of political campaign and vote buying which just not deprived quality human resources from serving the state, but also fuelling huge corruption in the political space affecting socio-economic development.
The Stakeholders called for the removal of the indemnity clauses in the Constitution, ensured strict enforcement of asset declaration including opening of envelopes and publications of details as such.
Corruption, according to Mr Etse Gomado, programme officer with Transparency International Ghana, had become monotonous in daily conversation and engagement of state requiring bold actions for results.
Madam Mary Awelena Addah, the Executive Director of Transparency International, Ghana said, “we now have to root out corruption from the system…we continue to nib it in the bud”.
Corruption, she noted had eroded public trust and has distorted socio-economic development outcomes and called for bold and credible policies to root it out.
Madam Addah told the Stakeholders that the responsibility heavily depended on citizens to end the practice.
Nana Egya Kwamina XI, the Chief of Apremdo, said schools and institutions must be taught the national Patriotic songs and emblems as key allegiance to state rather than self.
“The future of Ghana, must be bright and posterity can judge us right, but it will start from now, the reorientation of our minds for growth”, he added.
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga/George-Ramsey Benamba