By
Iddi Yire, GNA
Accra, Nov. 21, GNA
– Mr Abdallah Ali-Nakyea, Managing Partner of Ali-Nakyea and Associates, has
called for effective and strict enforcement of existing anti-corruption laws in
the country.
He said in spite of
strategies adopted over the period, Ghana’s performance in combating corruption
could be better if there is effective implementation of existing
anti-corruption laws.
Mr Ali-Nakyea said
this at the seventh National Development Forum in Accra.
The forum, which was
organised by the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) on the theme:
“Confronting the Menace of Corruption in Ghana”, registered more than 200
participants, including anti-corruption campaigners, academics and economists.
Issues of corruption
in Ghana have been discussed on diverse platforms and in the media and views
about the nature, extent, causes and effects have been conveyed.
NDPC over the last
six months of the fora, has engaged with stakeholders from diverse segments of
society on the future of the country.
Mr Ali-Nakyea said
the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) report indicates that Ghana loses about
three billion dollars to corruption annually, which consequently retards
growth, good governance and reduces the ability of developing countries to
supply essential public services.
He said according to
a 2015 survey conducted by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) the causes
of corruption included; get rich quick, greed and selfishness and low salaries.
“Other causes
include poor technological infrastructure, weak institutions, undermining of
institutions by politicians, lack of political will, poor ethical standards,
lack of accountability, and lack of effective corruption reporting system”, he
said.
Mr Ali-Nakyea, who
delivered the keynote address, said Ghana has over the years, since
independence created policies to curb this menace, sadly these have remained
largely unsuccessful.
He said national
anti-corruption policies over the years, have included; appealing to religious
bodies to exhort citizens; execution of corrupt persons; confiscation of
corruptly acquired properties; and strengthening and setting up of institutions
as the Police and Auditor General’s Department.
Mr Ali-Nakyea said
that the strategies to adopt were not exhaustive, however, to curb and make
great strides as well block the leakages in the economy, there is the need to
invest in technology to reduce the human interface.
He also highlighted
on empowering the various anti-corruption agencies and institutions in such a
manner that it does not encourage political interference.
He said there is a
need to sensitise society as to the dire effects of corruption; making
corruption unattractive by punishing even party faithful and persons in power;
and implementing recommendations of the Auditor–General, Public Accounts
Committee and other institutions.
Mr Ali-Nakyea called
for responsible press, saying the media gathering, analysing, organizing,
presenting and disseminating information would create the necessary public
awareness and that would provide the momentum for undertaking reforms to
overcome corruption.
Professor Henry
Kwasi Prempeh, Executive Director, Ghana Centre for Democratic (CDD-Ghana),
said corruption widens the gap between the rich and the poor in the society.
He said not only
does it deprive the poor of their resources and opportunities, even worse, such
resources are diverted into the hands of others often less needy who use these
resources to finance conspicuous consumption and other socially unproductive
lifestyles.
Prof Prempeh said
the class inequality that corruption fuels poses a present danger to social
peace, and law and order.
“We should also not
forget that, corruption, insofar as it tends to turn on access to power and
resources, also fuels and exacerbates gender inequality in our society.”
Professor Stephen
Adei, Chairman, NDPC, said as part efforts to combat corruption, the time has
come for all public office holders and senior public servants to sign a code of
ethics, and declare their assets openly.
GNA
