Workers urged to stand up against corruption
The Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) has asked workers to take a leading role in the fight against corruption in the country.
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Welcoming agitations against corruption by workers and civil society organisations in the public sector in a statement it issued in Accra yesterday, the anti-corruption organisation said it saw the workers’ agitation and reports as progress in the fight against corruption.
It said some Ghanaians, especially workers groups, were now bold enough to speak out against corruption by people in high positions, pointing out that “even the untouchables such as religious and traditional leaders are now being questioned.”
While highly commending the workers who had shown the way, the statement signed by the GII Executive Director, Mr Victus Adaboo Azeem, urged Ghanaian workers, civil society organisations and journalists “to shine the light” on corrupt members and management of all institutions in the country including private institutions to expose the corrupt ones.
It observed that the government did not have any motivation to deal with corruption and, therefore, must be pressurised to do so.
Investigate credible allegations
The statement called on the government to conduct prompt investigations into credible allegations of corruption and sanction those found guilty.
It explained that this was the only way the country could succeed in the fight against corruption.
Pointing out a litany of alleged corrupt cases including Subah Info Solutions, GYEEDA, National Service Scheme, CHRAJ Commissioner,
MASLOC, State Housing Company, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, SADA and Metro Mass Transport, the statement said it appeared the government did not have any motivation to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Corruption in private sector
It recognised the fact that it was not only the management of state institutions that perpetuated the malpractice of exploiting the people they were expected to lead, explaining that: “Some private sector managers have also on their own perpetrated fraud against the state and the people,” citing the recent revelations about the Bawjiase Orphanage as an example.
Although it acknowledged the arrest of a few individuals, the statement said those were not enough.
“The government must act holistically on all credible allegations of corruption and not continue to implement half-hearted measures, especially on acts and persons perceived to be politically linked.
“These allegations, which often are made against board members, the chairpersons and chief executives, have resulted in heavy losses of state resources, which invariably have gone to enrich the pockets of those officials and their criminal partners.”
“While some of these public officials have been asked to step aside, no serious attempts have been made to investigate and possibly sanction them. Most of them are walking freely on the streets enjoying their ill-gotten booty,” the statement pointed out.
Act with integrity
It also called on the board and management of all institutions, including private institutions and businesses, to act with integrity.
It further demanded a complete review of the way persons were appointed into positions in the public service, giving priority to integrity, qualification and experience.
Besides, the statement called on Ghanaians to continue to recite the new Transparency International Declaration Against Corruption and live by it.