Corruption remains a perception

The menace of corruption is difficult to deal with in the Ghanaian society because it remains a perception."Sometimes we need to do proper investigation into some of the allegations so that we don't accuse ourselves wrongfully."

Baffour Dokyi Amoa, Director of International Campaign for Corruption-free Schools, made the remark yesterday at a press conference to coincide with the ongoing anti-corruption week as part of the international anti-corruption day which is observed on December ninth every year.

According to him, corruption generates civil wars, brings about instability, and enhances the culture of violence and greed in the society.

He noted that the cost of corruption is expensive and to fight against it there must be an intensification and creation of awareness in the educational institutions especially among the children and the youth.

Other stakeholders such parents and guardians, school authorities, old boyism, opinion leaders, and political interference contribute to the corruption in schools.

"This is why all and sundry must put hands to the wheel to respond to the challenge of corruption in schools and shield future leaders from the menace," Mr Amoa stressed.

The resultant effect is that the system at the end would produce quality leadership and human resource for the progress of the country.

To fight corruption in the schools, Mr Baffour Dokyi suggests that government must pay attention to social security, poverty and poor service conditions of teachers whilst other stakeholders help to tackle competition among schools for high performance and recognition, desire for high grades, and the pressure put on students by their parents to perform well.

The Director of International Campaign for Corruption-free Schools disclosed that the body has developed a Code of Conduct as part of its campaign and urged the media to work hard to unravel corrupt practices in the schools so as to "Build corruption-free schools and have happy nations in Africa."

Currently the Campaign for Corruption-free Schools operates in Nigeria, Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, 'Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Togo and Burkina Faso.