Corruption Is The Canker That Destroys Nation Building, Steals Opportunities And Future Of The Youths And Generations

Transparency International defines corruption as the abuse of entrusted power for private gain which erodes trust, weakens democracy, hampers economic development and further exacerbates inequality, poverty, social division and the environmental crisis. In the African perspective , the damages caused by corruption goes beyond the Transparency International definition, and I describe corruption as the canker that destroys nation building , steals opportunities ( aspirations and hopes) and the future of the youths and unborn generations.

Corruption had cost Africa’s Freedom, wealth, our natural resources, our health , our businesses and even life of individuals in the societies. Ghana and Africa, We cannot continue to look-on in destroying the aspirations and hopes of the generations to come under the current corruption tainted systems, however, it is a shared responsibility for us all to help build the systems that do not only frown on corruption practices but one that ensures prevention, accountability and justice for all. Furthermore, a system that mitigate inequality, poverty, social division, strengthen our democracy, injustice and harness economic growth.

Assessing couple of data and reports on corruption in Africa with special interest in Ghana’s case, according to the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) estimates that Ghana losses at least US$3.0 billion dollars annually to corruption. This report correlates to a similar assessment of the Ghana’s Ministry of Finance also estimates the state losses US$4.0 billion dollars annually to corruption. The question is, why are we seeking loan facilities internationally (e. g IMF $3billion) if yearly we have the same or more amount of money in the system circulating through corruption practices ?

The global bodies ( e.g. UN) are somehow doing their part in the fight against corruption in Africa such as the passage of United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and inclusion of corruption in the Sustainable Development Goal 16 . Also, the IMF in 1997 instituted policy framework to help corruption fight which focuses on : (a) fiscal governance;

(b) financial sector oversight; (c) central bank governance and operations; (d) market regulation; (v) rule of law; and (e) Anti-Money Laundering and Combatting the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) but are we adapting and integrating these policy frameworks in to our systems. However, it is up to the African leaders , governments, civil societies and the African peoples to build the corruption-free systems and institutions that brings sanity in state functions that are significant to core economic activities.

Brief comparative analysis, OECD report 2019 edition ( Aid at glance) states that Africa is the largest recipient of official Development Assistance(ODA), a net ODA of US$52.8 billion with population of 1. 255 billion whilst Asia has net ODA of US$48.8 billion with population of

4.120 billion.
Corruption is sinking Africa and we must all rise up to fight, report estimates Africa losses around US$148 billion annually and this represents over 25% the continent’s Gross Domestic Product ( GDP) of US$3.1 Trillion dollars. Sustaining the aspirations and hopes of the youths and generations lies in our collective force against corruption. The success and development of Africa rests in the capabilities ,available opportunities and capacity of the African People. God Bless Ghana & Africa. To be continued

Produced by : Mr. Evans DARKO, Doctoral Researcher , CREM LAB, France.

Keys : Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), International Monetary Fund ( IMF)