WHY ADVANCED COUNTRIES SHOULD HELP FIGHT GHANA'S CORRUPTION.

The Akan proverb literally translates as, 'An adult who looks on unconcerned for children to consume snake meat would themselves be counted among snake-eaters.' If this adult would help prepare the snake meat, then they obviously will be the first to be counted. The advanced countries by all standards are the big brothers of the African and other developing countries.

The incidence and reports of corruption in Ghana and Africa in general have been seen as a way of life rather than news; unfortunately the advanced countries in more ways than one contribute to their sustenance. All the big-time corruption involves international companies and large amounts of money. A ten percent kickback on a large amount is big, and the poor African country is made poorer. To further add insult to injury, it again takes the help of these advanced countries to keep and bank, invest and protect these monies and eventually the looters. This has been going on even as harboring a criminal is criminal in the very democratic laws the advanced countries know better! In case they attempt to plead ignorance of the background of these loots, It will not be convincing at least after revelations of Wikileaks, Snowden etc. and their all-time efficient intelligence networks.

Let's take the revealing case of Umaru Dikko of Nigeria whose attempted kidnap in the UK in 1985 made global headlines because of the dramatic mode of kidnap. It is noteworthy that whereas UK intercepted, prevented and even prosecuted the kidnappers, UK's "Iron Lady" is on record as saying around that time that UK cannot reschedule Nigeria's debt because the monies in the names of Nigerian political refugees (as Dikko) could more than settle such debts! How did she know these and why make reference to them if she was not convinced that the monies were in wrong hands! The Swiss Bank also from time immemorial has been receiving among honest deposits the "loot" of most of the corrupt African Presidents, because of its touted non-disclosure policy has been deliberately or inadvertently habouring "criminals"! Is it not time to correct these errors/oversight/negligence if we are not to see them as collaborators!

Even though her citizens are not an exception, the alternative and better attitude has been exemplified by the United States a couple of times by either striking deals with relatives of departed corrupt African statesmen for the repatriation of some of the loot or prosecuting their corrupt citizens. An example is that of one Elizabeth Cotton of the US who connived to dupe Ghana in a rice project; the US proactively prosecuted and jailed her own, giving Ghana the vim to do same to her officials involved in the deal! We want to see more of such international show of concern and action; for after all Ghana and other African countries cannot do without the budgetry support from these countries. Also if the laws are not helped to rid the system of corruption then it is democracy that is failing; and if that happens, then God/Allah/Our conscience help us all!

KWABENABA K.