Fighting corruption needs genuine commitment - Agyeman-Mensah

Kumasi, March 4, GNA - Dr Kwaku Agyeman-Mensah, Ashanti Regional Minister, has called for genuine commitment by all Ghanaians to the fight against corruption.

Corruption, he noted, had become so pervasive that it was affecting every fabric of both private and public life and thereby denying the countr= y the needed resources for national development.

He said its eradication must, therefore, be the top priority not only for the government but all the people.

Dr Agyemang-Mensah made the call in an address read for him at a regional consultative workshop on the development of Ghana National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP) in Kumasi on Friday. NACAP is a broad strategic framework document being developed under the auspices of the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to aid the fight to bring down corruption.

The workshop was organized by the NACAP Working Group to among other things create awareness and seek views that could be included in the NACAP document.

The Regional Minister underlined the determination of the Government to partner individuals and organizations to eradicate the canker by deepening political accountability and transparency in governance, disclosure of budgets, public expenditure and review of procedures adopted in public procurement.

Mr Richard Quayson, Deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ and Chairman of NACAP Working Group, said it offered the nation a better anti-corruption regime and more comprehensive system to combat corruption. When implemented, NACAP would enable the nation to undertake coherent measures targeted at creating awareness, prevention and combating corruption.

Added to this, were the promotion of integrity in both the public and private sectors, creation of workable guidelines for the management of public resources and the use of public authority in a manner that would minimize opportunities for corrupt practices and reduce temptation for corrupt behavior.

He encouraged Ghanaians to take the fight against corruption seriously and win. Mr Adom Ghartey, Consultant of the Project, said it sought to build a society where corruption was strongly condemned.