Flashback: Corruption runs through the system, let’s fight it hard – Osafo Maafo

Senior Minister, Nana Yaw Asafo Maafo in 2019 acknowledged the need for Ghanaians to maintain the highest standard of integrity and work ethics as a measure of safeguarding the nation's coffers.

The Senior Minister underscored that fighting canker in the country goes beyond the fine laws of the nation, and called for a change in attitude and mindsets in order to root out corruption.

“I think we all know how we lose money through careless use of resources. You leave your office and you leave all the air condition on and leave all the lights on and you just leave. The office is paying the bill. Once power is being used somebody has to pay. So you’re undermining the whole system. Corruption obviously takes a big toll on our resources because it runs through the system and we have to fight it and fight it hard,” the Senior Minister was said at a forum in Accra.

Read the full article on the Senior Minister’s statement as first published by kasapafmonline.com below:

Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo Maafo has said the entire Ghanaian populace has a role to play in the corruption fight in the country.

Mr. Osafo Maafo said the fine laws in the country alone cannot put away the canker urging for attitudinal/ change of mindset by Ghanaians to end the menace.

According to him, maintaining the highest standards of integrity and work ethics across all areas of activity have a part to play in safeguarding the public purse.

“I think we all know how we lose money through careless use of resources. You leave your office and you leave all the air condition on and leave all the lights on and you just leave. The office is paying the bill. Once power is being used somebody has to pay. So you’re undermining the whole system. Corruption obviously takes a big toll on our resources because it runs through the system and we have to fight it and fight it hard,” the Senior Minister was said at a forum in Accra.

Meanwhile, Anti-corruption activist Vitus Azeem has stated that corruption in the country is getting worse under the Akufo-Addo government.

He attributed the situation to politicians wanting to loot as much money as they can while in power.

Speaking to Ghanaweb Mr. Azeem said: “It seems to be worsening with the times. It has been more serious with the fourth republic. And with every change of a new government it seems to worsen and you can see it with this present government. It was not as bad as it was with president Kuffuor, it was not as bad as it was under Atta Mills and Rawlings. But it is getting really bad now.”

He continued “especially this 2019, the things that are coming out are very unfortunate and should not be happening. It’s worse under every new administration. It’s like it’s a competition.”

“It was better under Kuffuor than under Rawlings. And now it is worse under this government than it was under the previous one. It’s always going up. It’s like you’ve been in opposition for 8 years, you’ve come you want to make sure that you gather as much as possible,” he claimed.