Britain urges Ghana to use rule of law to fight corruption

The British High Commissioner, Mr Rod Pullen on Friday said the most important attribute in any anti-corruption fight should be the use of the rule of law.

Every corporation, citizen or government should be subject to the law, he said, adding that it must apply impartially not only to those who are governed but also to those who govern.

"The law that applies to the tro-tro driver should be the same law that applies to the national and international organisation that does business or otherwise operates in Ghana, be they the private or public sector," Mr Pullen said, in an address at a ceremony to present awards to winners of an anti-corruption slogan competition organised by the Ghana Integrity Initiative in Accra.

The three-week competition was designed to involve the public in projecting the problem of corruption and seeking solution through the use of slogans, essays, jingles and posters.

Mr Pullen said the rule of law underpins prosperity and sustains the most acceptable and profitable way of doing business, without which there is no market economy, but a jungle of economy.

Corruption, he said, is a global problem, which undermines standards in public life, the institution of government and the cohesion of society and good management of the economy.

Evidence shows that in countries where the rate of corruption was high, investment rates were as low as 12 per cent and where corruption is low investment rates are high.

Mr Pullen said corruption has often helped the rich and powerful but "only at the expense of much of the rest of the community, but particularly the poor."

He said the promotion of good governance is a key element of the United Kingdom's development co-operation in Ghana. "We have made a commitment to see action against corruption as a necessary basis for government-to-government programmes."

Mr Pullen said there was growing international commitment to take action on corruption wherever it occurs adding: "We can no longer sit back and turn a blind eye to the abuses caused by corruption especially to poor people."

Mr. Emile Short, Commissioner for Human Rights and Administrative Justice, who chaired the function, said corruption was a worldwide problem that exacts a heavy toll on countries that had weak systems.

He therefore stressed the need to build strong integrity systems to limit opportunities for corruption and to prevent or combat it.

He said measures to deal with the canker should include prevention, punishment and public education. There were 770 entries from all the regions of Ghana and 12 persons received prizes.