Religious bodies must fight corruption - Maulvi Adam

Accra, Feb.18, GNA - Maulvi Dr. Wahab Adam, Ameer and Missionary in-charge of the Ahmaddiya Muslim Mission of Ghana on Wednesday called on religious bodies to do more in the fight against corruption in the country.

He said corruption like a canker is eating deep into every sector of the society and something must be done to fight and reduce the menace.

Dr Wahab Adam whose speech was read by Maulvi Yusif Yawson was speaking at the opening of an Ethics Workshop organized by the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) in collaboration with the Christian Council of Ghana, National Catholic Secretariat and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission in Accra.

The seminar which is on the theme: "Zero tolerance against corruption campaign: The role of religious bodies in Ghana" was aimed at harnessing and sharing experiences, expertise and skills of religious bodies in the fight against corruption.

He said religious leaders should consider the moral aspect of corruption that it did not only spell the doom of the country but also killed the soul as well.

He said given the massive following and great reverence that religious bodies command in the country, the right approach and education could make the needed difference that would usher in an era of plenty for all.

Mrs Florence Dennis, Executive Secretary of Anti Corruption Coalition (GACC) said corruption was a major cause of poverty which undermined development.

She said the enactment of laws and legal processes alone could not stop corruption but rather the implementation and enforcement of those laws would go a long way to help curb corrupt practices. She said the fight against corruption should be carried out in a multifaceted way to ensure that the total objective was achieved. Mrs Linda Ofori-Kwafo, Programmes Manager-GII said religious bodies in their resolve to fight corruption should earn the respect of both government and citizens if it did good housekeeping which was essential to its credibility and effectiveness. She said religious bodies would gain more credibility as champions of transparency and accountability if they themselves practiced similar virtues. "A corrupt religious body can never challenge a corrupt society" She added. She said religious bodies must therefore choose to bring their traditions and avowed opposition to corruption to bear on their own practice and the examples set by their leaders and key organizations.