body-container-line-1

Impunity Of Public Officials Causing Ghana’s Slow Development

Feature Article Impunity Of Public Officials Causing Ghanas Slow Development
SEP 20, 2014 LISTEN

Ghana gained political independence since 1957 and has since continues to battle with poverty and economic development. Governments over the space of time has done very little to salvage the plight of development needs of Ghanaians. This can be attributed to what I called 'Public Sector Impunity'.

Hitherto, issues of corruption and misappropriation of public funds continue to be in the red flags of many Ghanaians and Anti-corruption Agencies. I want go by Kwesi Atta Sakyi definition of corruption. He says, “Corruption is any act undertaken with the aim of personal pecuniary or financial gratification. It is an illegal, unethical and bad behavior which is unprofessional, unpatriotic, unchristian and inhuman. It involves soliciting for bribes, kickbacks or acting deliberately to delay service delivery in order for the recipient of the service to do something, to speed up the process by offering something by way of gifts or kola. In some cases involving women, it may end up as 'bottom power' where sexual favors are sought in order to award contracts or obtain a job or get promoted or obtain a high exam mark or obtain a passbook to obtain goods for sale”.

The issues raised by Sakyi in his definition have been the main issues that plague Ghana's Public Offices. We have regularly been informed by media investigations and reports, how public officials misuse funds to their selfish benefits. Outrageously, those public officials with constitutional mandate to fight corruption and misappropriation of funds are themselves involved in the act. Public Institutions including the Government Officials (Ministers and MMDCEs), Police Service, Parliamentarians, Educational Institutions, and other Public Agencies have been involved in misuse of public funds.

Most outrageously was the recently accused CHRAJ boss for misappropriation and profligate spending. Ms. Lauretta Lamptey has been criticized by the wider public for spending over $203,500.00 on renovating her official residence. Even though she has strongly denied the allegation, a person of such position shouldn't have been in public castigation. An institution (that is CHRAJ) which is in-charge of protecting the fundamental human rights of Ghanaians including investigation of corruption allegation is in itself involved in misspending of public funds when it's believed to have done very little in reducing human rights abuses Ghana.

In the recent past, we had issues of SADA, GYEDA, and payment of Judgment debts. The 2014 World Cup Commission has exposed the rots in both the Ministry of Youth and Sport and the Ghana Football Association. Issues of corruption have been plagued in other sectors such as the Ports and Harbors Authority, ECG, DVLA, and many others.

Amazingly, one would have expected that the many cases of corruption exposed by media investigations, Auditor's General Reports, Public Accounts Committee Reports, and Reports of many commissions set-up to investigate corrupt allegations, but this turn otherwise. Government appointees who are accused of corruption and misuse of public funds are sometimes gives new appointment or promotion. Other public officials have been given green cards to either continue their duties or stay home and enjoy their undeserved accruing wealth.

Over the past decades, I have questioned the notion that, the Law is not a respecter of any individual. In Ghana's case, Public Officials seem to overlook the laws and do what pleases them instead. The poor and voiceless people on the street are those who rather falling prey of the Law on daily basis, which are accused falsely or out of frustration. Ghana in particular is well-praised for enacting and endorsement of several legislations and international treaties including laws on corruption, but equally it ranks the least in its enforcing laws. The 1992 Constitution of Ghana has enjoins all citizens to ensure Freedom, Accountability, Probity and Justice. But, how many times have we ensured the compliance with these principles? The enforcers of the Constitution are themselves culprits and barely do they make any significant achievement.

As a result of non-enforcement of the rule of law, greater impunity has already been created in Ghana's Public Offices, as public officials have the notion that, nothing would be taken against them even if public funds are being mismanaged. Unfortunate, we tagged ourselves as Christians, Muslims, or Traditionalists, but none these sacred religions condones impunity, corruption and abuse of office. Are we therefore using religion to conceal our misdeeds? We must rethink and re-act.

Observing from afar, one can conclude that the impunity of public officials due to no prosecutions of corrupt acts is what caused a slow pace of development in Ghana. And it's likely to remain underdeveloped for years to come if this impunity is not stopped. Ghana is a country to live and a country to love. Let's not concern our minds in our individual households, but should rise to the broader interests of all Ghanaians. You cannot said to have contributed to Ghana's development until you ensure purity in the public office.

Abu Ibrahim Azebre
[email protected]
www.azabreghana.blogspot.com
0240393109
20/09/2014

body-container-line