body-container-line-1
01.04.2016 Feature Article

Corruption Is The Cause Of Poverty And Underdevelopment In Ghana

Corruption Is The Cause Of Poverty And Underdevelopment In Ghana
01.04.2016 LISTEN

Corruption and its debilitating effects cut across all types of socio-economic and political systems and is a curse that afflicts many countries. It has become a major cause of concern throughout the world.Former US Vice-President, AL Gore did,indeed,admit to the position that 'Corruption is universal'(Banks World, June 1999 Vol.2 No 6).

Yes, corruption is widespread and a world phenomenon but the only qualification is that, it occurs more in some countries or continents than others. In Africa and for my purpose in Ghana,it has become nothing less than a blasphemy! Even laws, rules and regulation have failed in combating corruption with enforcers' and law makers turning out to be corrupt in themselves.

As mentioned in the book of Ph.D.V Chingo, "corruption can only be defined within a specific society and at a specific point in time".This cultural specific aspect of corruption is reflected in the division of so called black, white and grey corruption.Going by Chingo's assertion, permit me to define corruption by making reference to Archbishop Palmer-Buckel who in quoting from Transparency international sources, stated that:

"Corruption involves behaviour on the part of public officials in the public sector, whether politicians or civil servants, in which they improperly

and unlawfully enrich themselves or those close to them by misuse of public power entrusted to them" (Palmer - Buckle,1998).

Ghana as a country is blessed with abundant of natural resources far more than any other country in the world . Indeed, this may sound like a glory exaggeration.But it's a 'near reality'!I know at this point you may be cogitating and asking yourself;why then are we still brazen in untold poverty and underdevelopment?Hear me now, poverty is slapping the ordinary man in the face and development is eluding us because of corruption!Yes,Corruption!

Infact,A.J.P Taylor never minced words when he said,"There is nothing more agreeable in life than to make peace with establishment and nothing more corrupting".In no uncertain terms,corruption in any system has the tendency to undermine citizens moral, harm their job prospects and national development, infring upon fundamental human rights which is guaranteed under Chapter five of the 1992 fourth Republican constitution of Ghana,impede the quality of governance, endanger our sovereignty as a democratic country; and within the legal officialdom,without a free,fair and independent judiciary, graft effectively becomes the new "rule of law", a situation which paves way for the goat thieves to be hanged whiles the real criminals that engage in dubious massive judgement debts and procurement losses but can dig deep into their pockets walk scout free by simply buying justice on a silver platter with their ill-gotten money.

Paradoxically,whiles we complain of poverty and underdevelopment, our country loses at least $1 billion annually due to corruption with the figure projected to rise to $4 billion if anti corruption means are not instituted.I guess you know the value $1 billion in the lives of you and I...!

Corruption is estimated to raise household price of water by as much as 30% and general prices of goods by 20% (TI 2008).In the midst of these clear statistics, the ordinary Ghanaian is dieing of thirst and prices of goods and services are on the high rise!

Worth noting also,is the regretable fact that in each year's audit report over the last few decades,the Auditor General has made staggering revelations of cases of massive fraud, abuse and waste in the public service of Ghana . Interesting enough, indicted persons and institutions in these reports mostly go unpunished, without a single prosecution or retrieval of funds therefrom.It always end with the usual newspaper headlines, media hype and usual actioneless talk.

Have you ever imagined the number of lives that would have been changed positively if we had properly accounted for money's used during the Ghana at 50 celebration? How about that of Woyome? Talk of the diversion of state funds and wanton selling of state Bungalows and the recent bus branding Saga...The list is unending!

His excellency Dr.John Dramani Mahama scored all the points when he asserted, "Corruption is mass murder".Corruption in any imagination can wholly distort and undermine the cause of justice in many parts of the world, denying victims and the accused basic human rights to fair trial whiles widening the poverty gap between the rich and the poor.In corrupt societies, God given resources can never be distributed pari passu and the grass roots are always at the losing end.

Corruption they say is as old as the hills;We should all be angels in heaven if the world were totally free of corruption.

In the nick of time, the fight against corruption must involve society as a whole - the private sector, government, individuals,Non Governmental Organisations ( NGOs), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), institutions (CHRAJ) among others.If our country is to work again, then corruption must be worked against!

This blasphemy of a canker is indeed worsening the situation of the poverty line and unjustifiably complicating life for the vulnerable poor and the time is right and now to say NO to corruption!

When I imagine the level of corruption by the very people entrusted with power to ensure distributional justice and I look back to reflect on the whining of my poor mother's and father's struggling to make ends meet and pay school fees, I feel like shedding tears.

Countryman, the time to wake up and fight the corrupt injustice in society is now! Thomas More was quoted saying,"I would uphold the law if for no other reason but to protect myself" and Kurt Cobain maintains that,"The duty of the youth is to challenge corruption".

As a youth and a concerned citizen of mother Ghana,lets all join hands in the national interest and say a big NO to corruption!Join me again to say a big NO to corruption!

May God bless our homeland Ghana and make us bold to defend the cause of freedom and justice.

By:ANAN PANSAH, B ABRAHAM ( AB)
(Teacher, Radio Presenter and Student - University Of Ghana Business School)

Phone Number (s): 0241129910/0200704844
[email protected] / [email protected]

body-container-line