Corruption becoming like HIV in Africa - lecturer

A Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr. Evans Aggrey Darko, has likened increasing corruption on the African continent to HIV prevalence.

Speaking on Adom FM/Asempa FM’s ‘Burning Issues’ program he said corruption has become the order of the day because people who are found guilty are left without any sanctions.


He said until governments in Africa begin to deal efficiently with corruption - starting from their own administration -- the continent would continue to encounter economic challenges.


He specifically advocated a strong and independent institution that would not only monitor the conduct of public officials but also investigate and prosecute suspected state officials found to be engaged in corrupt acts.


Recently former President Jerry John Rawlings raised issues with President Mahama's commitment to fighting corruption, and urged him to do more.


According to President Rawlings, although he has made the call many times, not much has been done to rescue the image of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party and government, which he said was “suffering under a cloud and climate of corruption”.

Dr. Aggrey said the call by the former President is in the right direction adding that the key to turning the economic fortunes of Ghana around is for the government to deal with corruption among its officials.


He observed that institutions tasked with the objective to monitor the operations of the government officials must be properly resourced and also given autonomy to work.


He said even though former President Rawlings may have been cited with corruption during his regime that does not stop him from commenting if the things are not working out the way they should as a country.


“Addressing corruption in Ghana, agencies such as the media, civil societies and policy think tanks need to do institutional analysis and work as a team” he added.


He said if corruption is not tackled holistically in the country, it will get to a time when children will pull guns and knives on government officials.