By
Dennis Peprah, GNA
Dumasua (B/A), Sept. 18, GNA – Two traditional
rulers in the Brong-Ahafo Region on Monday, took a swipe at anti-corruption
advocates, institutions and campaigners
calling on them to come out with concrete steps in the fight the menace in the
country.
The chiefs said corruption remains a serious
societal burden and it required realistic approach and serious social
intervention to control the practice.
“It seems we are not serious as a nation.
Every day we all see the Police on the road extorting monies from drivers. We
don’t do anything positive about that, but we are always preaching against
corruption”, said Nana Bofo Bene II, the Vice President of the Brong-Ahafo
Regional House of Chiefs.
Speaking at a multi-sectoral stakeholders land
forum held at Dumasua in the Sunyani West District, Nana Bene II, who is the
Paramount Chief of Dwenem-Awasu Traditional Area in the Jaman South
Municipality, expressed discomfort about the lack of political will in tackling
issues of corruption.
Successive governments, he said, have failed
the nation in the fight against all forms of corrupt practices but lauded Nana
Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s government for the zeal and commitment to bring the
national challenge under control.
The forum was organised by the Ghana Integrity
Initiative (GII), local chapter of Transparency International (TI), a global
civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption.
It was attended by civil society and private
sector actors, government agencies, youth groups and non-governmental
organisations.
In line with the Land and Corruption in Africa
Project, being implemented by the GII, the forum which was facilitated by the
Centre of Posterity Interest Organisation (COPIO), a local anti-corruption
NGO,- the forum created opportunity for relevant stakeholders to come together
to deliberate on policies and reforms in the land sector.
The GII’s Land and Corruption in Africa
Project among others seeks to empower the citizenry to defend the land and
tenure right and to demand transparency and accountability from their
governments to end corruption in the land sector.
Okatakyie Amoa Aturu Nkonkonsia II, the
Paramount Chief of Japekorm Traditional Area, said corruption remains the bane
of accelerated national development as the challenge has denied many Ghanaians
access to justice, quality education and healthcare.
He said until government, anti-corruption
campaigners and all relevant institutions collaborated effectively and attached
seriousness to it, the campaign against the practice would not yield any useful
outcome.
Mr Michael Okai, the Programmes Director of
GII, said the effects of corruption in the land sector were enormous as the
challenge has denied citizens access to potable drinking water, shelter and
food.
Corruption, he said, has influence on the
lives of every citizen, hence the need for everyone to support the fight
against the practice.
Alhaji Mohammed-Abibu Alhassan, the Brong-Ahafo
Regional Lands Officer, said the sector was bedeviled with serious corrupt
practices.
Currently, he said, the Land Bill was at its
final stage of review by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Lands and
Natural Resources, hoping that with the passage of the Bill, challenges in the
land sector would be addressed.
GNA