By
Sumaiya Salifu Saeed, GNA
Ho, Sept. 22, GNA – Mr Richard Quayson, Deputy
Commissioner, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ),
has expressed concern about how corrupt practices are sinking the fortunes of
the nation.
He said Ghana loses about three billion
dollars annually to corruption and this represents about 300 per cent of all
aid inflows to the nation.
Mr Quayson, who was speaking at a National
Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP) Regional Level Awareness Campaign 2018 in
Ho, also noted that the figure lost to corruption yearly represented an average
of 20 per cent of the national budget and called on the citizenry to eschew all
forms of corruption and report corrupt conducts.
He said the Ghana Beyond Aid
“mantra” was achievable if citizens together with government “put our
house in order”.
Mr Quayson said the 20 per cent could relief
the struggling masses, create employment avenues and provide social amenities
for the citizenry.
He said it was painful seeing citizens who
have worked hard for the growth of the country receiving pittances as pension
when just a few “pocketed” the gains of the country.
Mr Quayson called on all to strive hard to
help reduce and if possible end corruption.
Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, Volta Regional
Minister, said corruption as a killer was robbing Ghanaians of financial and
other resources needed for development.
He said government was convinced that Ghana
was endowed with resources for its rapid development, hence the need to
discontinue the dependence on aid.
Dr Letsa advised public office holders and
public servants to judiciously manage the resources of the people to bring
about better conditions and standards of living.
He said the introduction of NACAP would ensure
that issues of corruption was tackled with series of structures, policies and
laws to check the public servants and eradicate all forms of corrupt
tendencies.
GNA