A 2002 AU study estimated that corruption cost the African continent roughly $150 billion a year, a figure markedly higher than the aid received by African states from developed countries annually.
Additionally, according to Ghana Integrity Initiative, Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition and SEND-Ghana, Ghana loses 30% of GDP to corruption annually. When the Europeans arrived on our coast in precolonial times, they tagged our country the “Gold Coast” as a result of the sheer volume of gold found on our coast.
I wonder what nickname name the same people would have given our country if they happened to arrive in Ghana in 2019. Would it be TAGGED CORRUPTION COAST OR VIGILANTISM COAST? Corruption is a bane to national development. Corruption is a self destructive tool.
The attitude of politicians towards the fight against corruption is hypocritical and smacks of double standard. A key reminder is how politicians have either hailed or vilified Anas Aremeyaw Anas in relation to his exposé in opposition and in power. Others include their nonchalant attitude towards declaration of assets, RTI Bill, corruption scandals, shallow campaign message, vote buying, bribing traditional and religious leaders and appointment into strategic positions such as EC boss, IGP, NCCE, CHRAJ, EOCO, GSS, CEOs of public corporations, ex gratia, emoluments and caring about the ordinary Ghanaian. Politicians in Ghana care only the ordinary people when they’re in opposition but forget about the same people when they’re given the nod to rule.
Corruption begins with the mind, affects words and speech, actions, behaviour, character and destiny. Historically, corruption is the consequence of colonisation and adulterated culture. The greatest threat and consequence of colonisation was not political dominance and exploitation of our precious raw materials nor even the repudiated slave trade but a rather subtle breaking of the spine our cultural traditions and heritage such that today the African and the Ghanaian has become oblivious of his heritage.
We’ve developed a hybrid and convoluted culture which is inimical to our own interest. The colonialists succeeded in exterminating our unique cultural traditions and mindset and introduced something foreign to our nature and needs. We have a new nature and attitude which is contrary to our own selves. We’ve been cultured and nurtured against ourselves. We ignorantly attack ourselves thinking we’re destroying others and not our very selves. This is the height of folly and ignorance.
It’s almost impossible to fight corruption in Ghana because corruption is tolerated, accepted, expected and easily dispensed. Both the taker and the giver gladly welcome and allow it to perpetuate itself. Promising to fight corruption in Ghana is to promise next to impossible and to play God among demons. All politicians profit from corruption and ride on the wings of corruption to power across the country. Those who promise to fight corruption are either insincere or they’re blatant hypocrites. To fight corruption is almost like chasing our own shadow away.
Once the Ghanaian system is corruption tainted, it is a hopeless fight against corruption. The corrupt system gives birth to corrupt religious leaders, politicians, artisans, judiciary, parliamentarians, businessmen and women, workers, parents, importers and exporters, journalists, farmers and traditional leaders. The problem is not to be found in the leaves, fruits and branches of the tree but in the very roots of the tree.
There is no Ghanaian who is not corrupt including anti corruption crusaders and those who pontificate on corruption. Until we all identify corruption and bribery as a threatening national canker, this great nation will sink into an abyss of self destruction. Corruption is a crime against humanity. In effect, it impoverishes society and invariably suffocates the lifeblood of posterity.
The real robbery takes place not with guns but with pens in various air-conditioned offices across the country. By the simple act of signing a contract, endorsing a negotiations, implementation of policies; private citizens, public office holders, ministers, MPs, presidential staffers, diplomats and Presidents shortchange and mortgage the future of the people of Ghana.
By: Clement Adjei Sarfo
sarfo22@yahoo.com
0274445696
