Elmina, June 19, GNA - The fight against corruption is a herculean one that needs a concerted effort of all and sundry, the Minority leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has said.
He said the phenomenon, which has become increasingly widespread, had unleashed untold hardship on the poor and vulnerable in society. He added that corruption required a multi-faceted approach to minimize its spread if not to eliminate it.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who is also the Chairman of the African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption (APNAC), Ghana, made the observation at the opening of a three-day capacity seminar for members of the Network at Elmina.
The seminar was to enhance knowledge and skills of members on anti corruption strategies.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said among other things that corruption is a major threat to democracy, which destroyed trust and also leave its wake the depletion of national wealth to the detriment of the poor and vulnerable in society.
He, however, admitted that it was difficult for one institution to identify and to fight corruption and called on APNAC to strategize and evolve means of networking with other anti-corruption bodies to effectively combat it.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu stressed that it was imperative to constantly check corruption through political accountability, effective policy reforms, an efficient and effective private sector management, vibrant civil society organizations and a free but efficient probing media. The President of APNAC, Mr Given Lubinda, a Zambian Parliamentarian, deplored the level of corruption on the continent particularly among some politicians and stressed that no voter cast their votes for corruption and poverty but a hope for a better future.
He further abhorred the situation where people enriched themselves with state resources whereas expectant mothers and babies lacked access to good health facilities and therefore died in the process. Mr Lubinda said a survey has shown that 52 percent of parliamentarians in Zambia were deemed to be corrupt and described the situation as "most frustrating".
He reminded parliamentarians that they wielded power and therefore they had significant roles to lead the crusade against corruption. "We must exhibit ourselves as champions in the fight against corruption to gain public respect and confidence" he said. He debunked the notion that APNAC belonged to opposition MPs saying that the fight against corruption could not be won if only the opposition spearheaded it.
The Executive Director of the Ghana Integrity Initiative, Mr Daniel Batidam said corruption is apolitical and its damaging effects could affect all in society. He added therefore that civil society, the public, public officials as well as politicians must join in the fight against corruption. 19 June 10
