By Fatima Anafu- Astanga, GNA
Bolgatanga, Sept. 26, GNA – Mr Richard
Quayson, Deputy Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and
Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) on Tuesday advised Civil Society Organisations
(CSOs) to be active partners to government in the fight against corruption in
the country.
Mr Quayson said education of the public on
corruption and the need for actions to build proper mind-set of people against
the canker, was needed in addressing the phenomenon.
He urged CSOs to implement some programmes,
specified in the National Anti–Corruption Action Plan (NACAP) to enable the
people denounce corruption and help build the fortunes of the country.
Mr Quayson made the call when he addressed
participants at a NACAP regional level campaign dubbed: “Ghana United Against
Corruption”, in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region. It was attended by
representatives of Municipal and District Assemblies, the media, religious
organisations, traditional authorities, Ghana Education Service, National
Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) among others.
The Deputy Director said corruption was
man-made and indicated that efforts should be made on sustained bases in the
fight until results were realised, adding that corruption should not stop
Ghanaians from achieving their dream of becoming the star of Africa.
Mr Quayson who made a presentation on
strategies for the implementation of NACAP, revealed that Ghana losses 20 per
cent of her budget annually and said “imagine what 20 percent of the nation’s
budget could do in the lives of the struggling masses, the unemployed and the elderly
who are struggling to survive on pensions after many years of service to the
nation”.
He indicated that the estimated $3billion or
GHC 14 billion stolen money in Ghana when put into good use, could improve on
the poverty levels and enhance the economic situation of the citizenry in the
country.
“Let us stop the waste and invest Ghana’s
money into good use” he stressed.
He said stolen money was the single largest
commodity smuggled or exported from the African continent and added that it was
the reason for which about 65 per cent of the population in Africa lived in
abject poverty, noting that water and sanitation, road infrastructure, schools
and healthcare were critical areas the wasted money could go to address if
properly protected.
He emphasized that NACAP among other things
was to help reduce corruption and abuse of power for private gain and added
that the action plan for the next 10 years would help create sustainable
economy founded on good governance, and imbued with integrity.
The strategic objective of NACAP is to build
capacity to condemn and fight corruption and make its practice a high risk
low-gain activity. NACAP is to help institutionalize efficiency, accountability
and transparency in the public, private and non-profit sectors, as well as
engage and build the capacities of individuals, media and civil society
organizations to report corrupt practices and to conduct effective
investigations, and prosecute corrupt people where necessary.
GNA