Accept corruption in the system - NCCE

Tema, Nov. 23, GNA - The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) on Tuesday called on Ghanaians to accept the perception that corruption existed in the country and find lasting solution to eliminate it.

Mrs Augustina Akosua Akumanyi, NCCE Deputy Chairperson in charge of Programmes who made the call said "It said it is only when we all accept that there is a problem that we will find solutions to them." She said the NCCE was worried about either the perception or actual existence of corruption that seemed to be part of the Ghanaian society.

Mrs Akumanyi was addressing the opening session of a two-day workshop on anti-corruption organised by the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) in collaboration with the Tema Municipal Directorate of the NCCE for stakeholders at Tema.

It was under the theme "Fighting Corruption - An agenda for democracy and good governance" and among the participants were members of the African Parliamentarian Network against Corruption attending a meeting in Accra.

Mrs Akumanyi said there had been three important legislations enacted to make procurement transparent but asked; "if it is the laws that are needed or actual change in attitude."

She noted that Ghana was a signatory to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals but could achieve the goals when Ghanaians made conscious efforts to change their perception and attitudes on some issues especially corruption adding;" This calls for patriotism and having positive thoughts for our future leaders."

Mrs Akumanyi said there was the need for Ghanaians to perform their duties with zeal under the 1992 Constitution.

Mr Daniel Batidam, Executive Secretary of GII called for concerted efforts of all and sundry to solve the problem of corruption that had plagued the nation adding "This must not be left to only the politicians."

He advised Ghanaians against politicising corruption and asked opinion leaders in the society to muster courage to expose and condemn wrong doings because it was the only way to have leaders with integrity in the country.

Referring to the arrest of Mr Eric Amoateng, MP for Nkoranza North for his alleged involvement in drug deal, Mr Batidam said when proven the Government should take a firm decision to address the issue to serve as a lesson to people in responsible positions, because it was not an embarrassment to the Government alone but the nation.

Mr Ebenezer Tetteh-Wayo, Tema Municipal Director of NCCE said in Africa, corruption had resulted in the loss of 40 per cent of public resources that were diverted into private pockets.

He said it was the inherent dangers of corruption in politics, democracy and good governance that the 1992 Constitution required that the internal affairs of political parties should be run on sound democratic principles including openness, transparency and fairness. Mr Tetteh-Wayo said there was the need to mobilise resources to expose and fight corruption in any form and corruption must not be tolerated because it undermined justice and human dignity.

Mrs Doris Archampong, Greater Accra Regional Director of NCCE said for democracy and good governance to thrive and flourish in the society, the Government and state must fashion out a good policy framework to address issues of effective planning and administration of both human and material resources to ensure prudent management of the national economy for national prosperity.

She said corruption had denigrated human conscience, stunned national growth and imposed hardships on people and nations. The participants identified poverty, peer pressure, excessive demands from the family, greed, desire for power, lobbying for positions, people wanting to live above their income and kick backs for contracts as the major causes of corruption in the country.