Ghana's progress in fighting corruption

NEWS COMMENTARY ON GHANA'S PROGRESS IN FIGHTING CORRUPTION SINCE THE 2016 UK ANTI-CORRUPTION SUMMIT. 

Africa must indeed be worried that the continent loses about 148 billion dollars annually to corruption. Of greater concern is that the 2017 Corruption Perception Index published by Transparency International shows that eight out of the ten most corrupt countries are from Sub-Saharan Africa. This report has given rise to a number of questions, including whether Africa can win the fight against corruption. Credit goes to the AU for the push to re-examine its commitment to combat corruption. The AU must also be praised for declaring 2018 and every July 11 as AU Anti-Corruption Day. 

This is besides the UN's Anti-Corruption Day marked every December 9. In line with the AU's Anti-Corruption Day, a number of awareness campaigns are being spearheaded by the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) and its anti-corruption partners. As part of the Anti-Corruption campaign, Second Cycle Anti-Corruption Essay Competition is being organised. The Competition buttresses the point to simply ''catch them young''. In the words of NCCE's Deputy Director, Samuel Akuamoah, this is to ''immunize the pupils against corruption''. 

No wonder the Commission wants civic education to be re-introduced into the basic school curricula. Another way to find out if Ghana is making any concrete progress in its fight against corruption is to monitor and examine progress made in achieving goals and commitments. In 2016, under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama at the 2016 Anti-Corruption Summit in the UK, Ghana pledged to reduce corruption in education, sports, and also, empower the youth to fight corruption. Ghana also pledged to pass legislations, and also ensure transparency in business by creating a Beneficial Ownership Register. On contracts, Ghana pledged transparency in Open award of Contracts through E-procurement.

Information available indicates that the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) through due-diligence and Value For Money strategy has managed to save government almost one billion Cedis as of January last year to the first quarter of this year. Anti-corruption activists agree that some legislations are in place, but ''laws do not fight corruption, human beings do''! With regards to the Beneficial Ownership Register, information available shows that the move is stalled.

The Registrar General's Office says it is not clear whose sole responsibility it is to push the process further. One of the biggest exposure to the depth of the Corruption Canker is Investigative Journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas' recent expose' on corruption in Ghana Football, which indicted the GFA Boss, Kwesi Nyantakyi and his people. Ghanaians are yet to see who gets punished following the expose'. Thumbs up in Ghana's anti-corruption fight hinges on President Akufo-Addo's appointment of Martin Amidu as Special Persecutor. It is fulfilling to hear Mr. Amidu say his office has begun investigations and will soon make citizens aware of who are ''the subject of investigations''. Many are those who point fingers at the supposed corrupt people, but often few or none bring forth evidence, which is the most important ingredient in investigations.

What is sad and perhaps quite worrying is that, politicians have used corruption as a tool to undermine each other to get into office. Analysts see this as a worrying trend, which could greatly undermine gains made in Ghana's path towards entrenching democracy. The onus now lies with citizens to hold duty-bearers accountable, because Africa has no choice but to win the fight against corruption!

BY REBECCA EKPE, A JOURNALIST.
---DECRYPTED---