Appalling Corruption Level

Prof Kwesi Yankah last Tuesday disturbed the hornets' nest when he presented an apt situation report on Ghana's corruption state.

It was another platform provided by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) for pertinent matters to be discussed and the linguistics professor was not found wanting.

In a country where such brazenness attracts the umbrage of government-paid hawks, he became an instant target for negative descriptions. Even those who were not directly mentioned in the presentation became jittery and reacted insultingly after the media presentation of the discourse the following day.

The venerable academician knows too well about the players on the corruption field and how far they can go in their useless efforts at countering such presentations that he would hardly wink an eye at their cacophonous reactions. He is grown past their infantile pranks.

One of the reasons why fighting corruption in the country under the incumbent political administration is close to impossible is that there is a massive dose of denial on the part of those perpetrating it. These persons would stop at nothing in their useless bid to protect their fallen images.

The rot at the head of the country – the presidency – about which the linguistics professor alluded to, is very serious and calls for reflection by all Ghanaians.

No day elapses in recent times without one exposition or another, and all involving public institutions with political appointees playing immense roles.

The silence which has largely been associated with reports about corruption scandals across the country does the country no good. More Ghanaians, especially those whose words carry weight, must stand up and be counted among those ready to grab the bull by the horns in this direction, the accompanying invectives notwithstanding. After all, it is the interest of Ghana which is at stake.

A recent IEA survey report which had many Ghanaians posting negative impressions about the integrity of the presidency is as revealing as it is worrying. There is no doubt that with such a situation on our hands corruption would be provided an unwanted catalyst that would enhance its speed and spread.

It is our position that when more and more people speak against the phenomenon, adequate force would be marshalled against it.

Government players have unearthed new means of perpetrating corruption by especially targeting even sections of the media – the fourth estate of the realm – members of which must be able to expose moral anomalies.

The recent scandal about some journalists invited by state players for suspicious engagements at the seat of government has been discussed both in whispering mode and on the airwaves.

It is sad that such efforts are being exacted, all in a bid to shut the mouths of media practitioners so the cankerworm can be assured of longevity.

We have observed regrettably how those fingered in corruption scandals are rather transferred to the presidency and given fresh schedules as though their iniquities do not matter.

Unfortunately, as observed by Prof Yankah, the realities which endanger national security have not attracted any mention by the Council of State, let alone their action.

For how long can we hold on?