By Joyce
Danso, GNA
Accra June 21, GNA – Mr Richard Quayson, the
Deputy Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative
Justice (CHRAJ), has tasked government to back its commitment to the fight
against corruption with adequate funding.
Mr Quayson noted that over the years political
parties had won general elections with much commitment to the fight against
corruption yet the country was unable to invest one per cent of its annual
budget in the fight against the canker.
He noted most institutions championing the
fight against corruption were not adequately resourced to carry out their
mandate.
Mr Quayson was speaking at the launch of
Pensplusbyte METOGU Anti- Corruption Report in Accra.
METOGU project with the slogan “Keeping the
pressure on,” seeks to inform and educate citizens about the assurances and
policy interventions by government in their quest to fight corruption.
The 50-page report further seeks the views of
citizens on how well government was faring in delivering on its 2016 Manifesto
promises on how to curb corruption.
Data was collected from four regions namely
Volta, Ashanti, Western and Greater Accra.
Mr Quayson noted that the fight against
corruption had been intensified by Civil Society Organisations, public and
Private institutions but cases of corruption were reported almost on daily
basis.
He noted that if the messages on corruption
was not sinking deep into society, then it meant that institutions in the fight
against corruption were not getting things right.
The deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ appealed to
CSOs and institutions championing the fight against corruption to re-strategise
to curb the canker.
He said citizens must be vigilant in their
watchdog role in order to know how the nation was governed to ensure rapid
development.
Mr Kwami Ahiabenu, Executive Director of
Pensplusbyte noted that corruption was an abstract concept but a grave reality.
According to Mr Ahiabenu persons who benefit
from corruption were not resting, adding that they were looking for ways and
means to commit their next act by ensuring that “their action and inaction in
this direction go undetected.”
Mr Ahiabenu said corruption had further
undergone changes, adding that there was the need more citizens involvement.
He recounted that one of the objectives of the
research was aimed at mobilisation and stimulation of collective action at all
levels to support the fight against corruption.
Mr Ahiabenu said his organisation was going to
hold activities in the four regions where data was collected for METOGU report
to discuss with stakeholders the recommendations of the research.
“We have a clear advocacy to ensure that key
ideas from this research can influence policy and enable change happen.”
GNA