Corruption On The Rise In Ghana, Hijacking Economic Growth

The unstoppable rising corruption in Ghana is a serious hijack in the country's economic growth. Bribery, money laundering and tax evasion hinder good governance and thus constrain economic growth. Funds for necessary investments are in sub-Saharan Africa landed often in the pockets of government officials.

The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI ) issued in 2014, which measures the perceived public sector corruption in 175 countries ranked Ghana shooting up to the top of the list with intensified corruption in the Country. Nearly a third of these countries are in sub-Saharan Africa.

The top 5 least or almost no corruption countries in the world are Denmark, New Zealand , Finland, Sweden and Norway. Germany continues to rank 12. Ghana keeps on backing up to a top position of the rankings in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI). The published for the 20th time index (CPI ) is based on expert surveys and assesses on the perceived corruption among politicians and officials on a scale of 0 ( high levels of perceived corruption) to 100 ( no perceived corruption).

According to the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2014 Sub-Saharan Africa, 47 of the 175 countries surveyed are in sub-Saharan Africa. 21 markets were able to reduce the perceived level of corruption in the previous year , 13 markets are worse off than 2013. Botswana, Cape Verde and the Seychelles remain unchanged.

The top 3 integrated countries in the region, Ivory Coast , Mali and Swaziland were able to contain and as a result be able to strongly minimise the perceived corruption in their countries in a regional comparison. However 92 percent of the economies in the region have a CPI of below 50.

Ghana, Angola, Malawi and Rwanda have deteriorated most, in comparison to the previous years with inconsiderable serious rising Corruption Perception Index (CPI)- Points.

FRANCIS TAWIAH (Duisburg - Germany)