Residents in Hohoe share thoughts on curbing corruption in Ghana

Residents in the Hohoe Municipality of the Volta region have shared their thoughts on ways the country can deal with the menace of corruption at individual and institutional levels.

The Ghana Integrity of Public Services Survey (GIPSS) has disclosed that Ghana has lost GH₵5 billion in cash through the payment of bribes to public officials in 2021.

The Survey also showed that the Ghana Police Service, Immigration Service, and the Customs officers of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) are the top three institutions that receive bribes.

Ms Rita Batse, an entrepreneur, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA), that one of the causes of corruption which had been in the system for a long, was extortion of monies from citizens which was worrying.

She noted that impatience on the part of the youth and non-adherence to laws were also a cause of corruption, adding that it was easier for drivers to pay bribes than renew their expired licenses or have safety kits in their cars.

Ms Batse suggested the public “naming and shaming” individuals who engaged in corrupt activities and punishment meted out to them rather than calling out the institutions the individuals belonged to as well as enhancing digitalised systems.

Mr Sam Amu, an Educationist, noted that “corruption in Ghana is rooted in some of our cultural systems saying that when someone helps you make your nose, you must help them make their eyes.”

He called for more education and sensitisation aimed at demystifying some of the beliefs that encouraged corrupt activities.

Mr Richard Kitsi, a Project Consultant, said “for corruption in Ghana, there is no end in sight now because it has eaten so much into our system. Everything you want to do right now; you need to give money to somebody.”

He bemoaned the reports of the Auditor General, where the state lost monies without the surcharging of the individuals or institutions involved in such acts and admonished that punishment must be meted out to those found culpable by applying the appropriate laws.

Mr Andy Agbi, Hohoe Constituency Youth Organiser, National Democratic Congress (NDC), said corruption in Ghana had reached an alarming proportion and if not tackled, could deter investors.

He said monies which could be used for developmental projects to benefit citizens, ended up in pockets of few individuals which was worrying as well as the engagement of the youth in corrupt activities.

Mr Agbi described the GIPSS survey as damning and called for resources of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) to embark on public education while urging the government to look at the Public Procurement Act with regards to the sole sourcing aspect which to him, was becoming an avenue for people to engage in corrupt activities.

He called for a Public Financial Management Act to curb corrupt activities and for governments not to shelve corrupt individuals and institutions who are exposed by journalists.

Reverend Leonard Aglomasa, Youth Facilitator, Central Presbytery of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church Ghana in Hohoe, noted that the Bible in Exodus 24:8 and the Quran (Al-Bukhari 34:174) instructed human beings against accepting bribes.

“Do not accept a bribe for a bribe blind those who see and twist the words of the righteous.”

He noted that religion affected people’s behaviour hence as religious leaders, they could appeal to people’s conscience about the need to feel for people and ask them how they would feel if a hospital facility meant for them was diverted?

Rev Aglomasa said there must be a continuous moral education in worship places and schools to curb corruption adding that “I think that when we name and shame people found properly to be corrupt and put their names on mounted signboards, corruption may be minimised.”