Domelevo attributes growing corruption to leadership problems

A former Auditor-General, Daniel Yaw Domelevo, has expressed concern over the many alleged corruption cases in the country, describing the situation as a “leadership problem”.

He said the rampant corruption-related cases with its consequential financial losses and unequitable distribution of state resources were a “sign that leadership has failed” the country over the years. 

Mr Domelevo said it was the responsibility of the government to take care of its citizens, however, the government appears to be taking care of itself.  

He also said that the situation where the government appoints incompetent people into positions of trust leads to corruption and was thwarting the development of the country.

Mr Domelevo was speaking on the topic: “Corruption and economic inequality” at a Crusaders Against Corruption conference in Accra last Monday on the theme: “The scarface of corruption in Ghana; how corruption brings about poverty.”

Other speakers at the conference were a Founder Member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Nyaho Nyaho- Tamakloe; Executive Chair, African Business Centre for Developing Education, Dr Ekow Spio-Garbrah, and a former Head of the Political Science Department, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Dr Richard Amoako Baah.

Observation

Mr Domelevo further said that corruption in the country had seen an ascending trajectory since 1992, from his experience as a civil servant at the audit service since 1991, under former President Jerry John Rawlings. 

“When Rawlings was the President, there was thievery in the public sector but it was in the few thousands thereabout. 
“It moved to President Kufour's time, then they added some zeros, and it became about 10,000, 100,000, 200,000, thereabout. 

“Then, during Prof. Mills and John Mahama’s time, it went to millions. Now it is in the billions; if you hear the figures, you will not even believe it,” he alleged.

Advice

Mr Domelevo advised the youth not to venture into politics if they do not have the culture of resignation.

He urged them to always challenge the status quo and fight for reasonable and equitable distribution of public funds.

Dr Spio-Garbrah also lamented the concentration of authority in elected presidents which, he said, put every appointee under their control.

He, therefore, said leadership was responsible for corrupt practices, adding that since the fish rots from the head, corruption in every governance which destroys the country emanates from the Presidency, which is the finite authority.  

The former minister of state said the description of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as the “mother serpent of corruption” by the former Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, spoke volumes about the rot of corruption that had engulfed the government.

He urged the government to “break the stealing and stop the looting” instead of aspiring to “break the eight” while corruption thrives.

Ensuring free, fair elections

For his part, Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to learn from history and do what was right before, during and after the December 7 general election this year to protect the country’s democracy and ensure peace.

“I am saying that at the moment, the greatest threat to our democracy is the EC; that is the greatest threat to our democracy. 

“If we are not careful, we will lead this country into destruction. How on earth can transfers be made from one particular constituency to another without the consent of the person? These are facts,” he said.

Dr Tamakloe also said that renewing the mandate of the ruling party would increase the alleged corrupt dealings of its members, which, he said, had placed the country in a bad state.