The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) on Thursday said the fight against corruption must focus on implementation of practical measures; “as mere talk about the act would never put a stop to it”.
Mr Richard Quayson, Deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ noted that “due to our inability to fight the canker, it has taken a different dimension therefore enabling it to gain root”.
The Deputy CHRAJ Commissioner was speaking at public dialogue on anti-corruption strategies organised by the African Parliamentarians’ Network against Corruption, Ghana (APNAC- Ghana), which brought together both state and private anti-corruption institutions.
He said although the establishment of strong institutions play vital role in the fight against corruption, people should be educated on the need to eschew corrupt acts and its negative impacts as the building of strong institutions alone are not enough to curb corruption.
“We can have the best of anti-corruption institutions in the country, but if the people are not impacted with the knowledge of the ills of corruption, it will be very difficult for us to fight,” he said.
He urged people in authority to be very careful of their actions especially in the handling of public funds as Ghanaians are becoming more conscious of the ills of corruption and would call for accountability if they realise their funds have been used unjustifiably.
Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Bandua Vice Chairman, APNAC-Ghana, said Parliament as part of its commitment towards the fight against corruption, had passed several laws aimed at curbing it.
Mr Bandua who is also the Member of Parliament for Biakoye in the Volta Region, expressed disappointment in leaders embroiled in corrupt deeds.
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu, Minority Leader said APNEC is Africa’s leading network of Parliamentarians working to strengthen parliamentary capacity to fight corruption and promote good governance in various sectors.
He said APNEC has carried out a number of projects over the years, inquiring into the usually corruption-susceptible facets of national administration such as procurement, revenue-management in the extractive industries, allocation and management of resources in local government among others.
He said APNEC-Ghana has also been involved in sanitising the public- private partnership agreements and sharing the best practices in anti-corruption legislations.
There were representatives from the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition, the Ghana Integrity Initiative, and the Economic and Organised Crime organisation at the function.
