Private sector should participate in anti-corruption campaign-GII

Miss Linda Ofori-Kwafo, Programme Officer, Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), on Tuesday called on the private sector to put in place anti-corruption policies for the growth and profitability of their businesses.

“Businesses should have anti-corruption units to ensure that policies are implemented and corrupt practices are checked”.

She made the call at a one-day workshop to promote private sector’s active participation in the fight against corruption in the country for the business community at Takoradi.

The GII and the Sekondi-Takoradi Chamber of Commerce organised the workshop which was sponsored by Vodafone Ghana Limited.

Participants were educated on the United Nations Convention on Corruption.

Miss Kwafo said, corruption undermines businesses, adding, corruption in the marketplace undermines fairness and competition.

According to her, corruption also results in loss of market opportunities and business reputation as it increases the cost of doing business.

She said the scale and scope of corruption in the private sector is staggering and this included nepotism, bribery, fraud and embezzlement.

Miss Kwafo said management of businesses must ensure that their employees are educated on the country’s bribery and corruption laws which include the Public Procurement Act, Internal Audit Agency Act, the Whistle blowers Act and the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

Mrs. Mary Awelona Addah, a Senior Programme and Research Officer of GII, said the workshop was to enhance the understanding of corruption.

She said one does not have to work in a government institution or be a Member of Parliament to be corrupt.

Mrs Addah said, one is corrupt when he or she abuses entrusted power for private gain or abuse public office for personal gain.

Mr. Ato Van-Ess, Chairman of the Sekondi-Takoradi Chamber of Commerce, announced that the chamber is to establish an anti-corruption unit soon.

The unit, he said, would work closely with the Mediation Unit of the Chamber which would be commissioned soon.

Mr. Van-Ess said the private sector could make an impact in the campaign against corruption and that the chamber would make sure that its anti-corruption programme achieve objectives.