‘Corruption has contributed to road carnage’
Patrons of the Tiger Eye’s film,“Soul Takers,” which is based on driver’s licence racketeering within the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), have called for collective efforts of Ghanaians to curb the corruption in the country.
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According to them, corruption, which has engulfed the country, is a contributory factor to the loss of lives on the roads.
Background
The latest undercover investigations by Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ Tiger Eye, titled “Soul Takers”, shot with support from the Graphic Communications Group Limited, revealed the rot at the DVLA.
In the film, a network of officials and some deviants pursuing their personal monetary gains, issued licences to unqualified individuals.
The 12-month investigation, which saw the undercover team of Tiger Eye visiting some regional offices of the DVLA, established the breakdown of the system at the DVLA, making it easy for the team to procure licences for mentally and physically challenged persons, market women, expatriates, and other individuals, without going through the usual rigorous process of acquiring a licence.
Ministers
The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Nii Lante Vanderpuje, after watching the clip, described the video as a good work that should prompt Ghanaians to do the right thing.
“This indicates that a lot of things are taken for granted in most institutions and it calls for effective measures and monitoring to ensure that the right thing is done,” he said.
The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare, said the film was a lesson for government officials and all Ghanaians.
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She also said the movie was a warning to all institutions “because you may not know who is watching you. Corruption is not just taking money from somebody through the back door; corruption can lead to the loss of innocent lives,” she said.
Corruption
Some other patrons said it was “sad and pathetic” to watch people die as a result of corrupt practices of some self-seekers.
“The film is revealing and scary, and since we have noticed that fake licensing is actually going on, we should be involved in the fight against it to stop this menace,” Mr Samuel Agbenorto, a teacher said.
“If we have such unscrupulous people running the affairs of the country, then we are not safe. Our lives are in danger and it all boils down to the corruption menace which has swallowed us up,” Ms Angela Anim, a businesswoman said.
She added, “We all need to involve ourselves in fighting against the common enemy, which is causing our retrogression and leading to the deaths of people.”
Mr Christian Donkoh, who lost his son when a driver knocked him down in Takoradi, could not hold back his tears as he urged everybody to get on board to help stop indiscipline and corruption in public institutions.
Indiscipline
Other viewers said the danger on the road was due to indisciplined acts, especially by drivers.
Describing his observation after watching the film, Mr Chris Darkwah, an estate officer, said indiscipline on the part of drivers, especially commercial drivers, contributed so much to the dangers on the road.
Another viewer, Reverend Dr Nana Yaa Owusu Prempeh, said, “I think the police should teach citizens how to police themselves instead of them relying so much on the police.”