‘My corruption speech wasn't targeted at Mahama’s govt’

The British High Commissioner to Ghana Jon Benjamin has said that his controversial speech on corruption which he delivered last year was not directed at the Mahama-led administration.

According to him, his core objective was to address what appears as a systemic problem in the society and not an attempt to denigrate the government.

Mr Benjamin came under attack from government communicators for bemoaning the spate of corruption in the country last year. He was reported to have expressed concerns about the wasteful nature in which resources are dissipated by some state institutions.

However, Speaking to Bola Ray on Starr Chat Wednesday, the diplomat said it has never been his aim to blame the perceived corruption in Ghana on any particular government.

In his view, it is the collective responsibility of Ghanaians to fight corruption from their ranks.

“Fight against corruption in Ghana is a work in progress. It’s not for me to say the government is doing enough to fight corruption. There is corruption in any system in the world, but I think it’s about the culture and the systems which reduces the temptation and punishes people who may indulge in it.

“The situation in Ghana is that there is a very free media so there is a lot of reporting on corruption,” he stated.

Benjamin added: “My corruption lecture was not directed at the ruling government… I am not overly critical of the ruling government.”