Our constitution promotes corruption – Reverend Martey

Former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Reverend Professor Emmanuel Martey has stated that Ghana’s constitution and church are the root cause of corruption in the country.

He indicated that corruption is being tackled at the wrong places and “we are scratching where it is not itching”.

He emphasised that the nation has “not really touched the root causes of corruption” which he identified as the country’s constitution, Ghanaian culture and the church. He was of the view that anti-corruption measures have not been channeled to these areas that serve as major contributors to the canker.

Speaking at a round table organised by the Institute for Economic Affairs (IEA) on Wednesday, 14 March 2018, under the theme, "Can Ghana win the fight against corruption?” he pointed out that: “Our constitution promotes corruption”.

Additionally, he noted that “Ghanaian culture promotes corruption”.

Explaining further, Prof Martey said Ghanaian culture appreciates gift-giving and gift-receiving which makes it difficult to draw the lines where an act of corruption is being committed.

“So even if a politician on an election year goes round and takes gifts [along] and gives to traditional leaders it is appreciated. This is killing our nation,” he lamented.

He also bemoaned the “winner takes all” posture by political parties and raised concerns over the “overwhelming power given to the Executive” arm of government.

Prof Martey said the whole country is complaining about the huge size of government but “do you know why? He [President Akufo-Addo] is a lawyer and he believes in rule of law, he must go according to the constitution and the powers that the constitution has given him, he has realised that he is not a superman. So he is getting people to help him to discharge the duties which the constitution has given him…He is not ubiquitous, he cannot be everywhere that is why for me, my analysis of the situation [tells me] that is why he has brought in hundreds of ministers and this will not augur well for our nation”.

Prof Martey noted that Ghana is predominantly Christian and “unless we start fighting corruption from these 3Cs (constitution, culture, church) that are the root causes, we’ll be scratching where it is not itching”.