A
RELOOK AT CORRUPTION IN GHANA; MENTAL REVOLUTION AND LEADERSHIP KEY IN THE
FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION.
A better appreciation of how deadly and disastrous
corruption has been and continues to be to this country will be to soberly
reflect on its damning effects to our dear country.
Consider the number of lives that are lost and
persons disabled due to poorly constructed roads, the quantum of properties destroyed
due to negligence, the precious lives we continuously loose due to the collapse
of unsupervised buildings and the many Ghanaians who have been unjustly
imprisoned due to influences in the
judicial system of Ghana.
A deeper reflection of these consequences of
corruption due to greed, negligence, selfishness and irrational decisions of
some public officials naturally evokes pain, anger and malice in the hearts and
minds of Ghanaians who work tirelessly to pay their bills, educate their kids
and pay huge taxes only for their taxes to be abused by state officials who are
mandated to manage and put the money into the provision of public goods and
services for the benefit of the entire country.
It probably didn’t come as a surprise, considering
the massive support Ghanaians showed, when former president Jerry John Rawlings
as a young soldier led a massive revolution in the late 70s and early 80s due
to the decay corruption had caused our country. Every passionate and patriotic
person who deeply ponders over the consequences of corruption may also lead a
similar revolution.
Sadly, after over thirty years after this
revolution, the incidence of corruption seem to be worse than before. This is
probably due to the fact that, not only political actors engage in this act but
religious leaders who should be the mouthpiece of God, academics and teachers
who should impart knowledge, traditional rulers who should be custodians of
tradition, the media who should expose acts of corruption, the judiciary
mandated to protect and defend the law and constitution are all engaged in this
act.
I may not attempt to quote any scholarly definition
of this deadly cancer but to draw our minds to the fact that, any act of
negligence and abuse of office constitutes acts of corruption.
Sometimes when I read or listen to discussions in
the report of the Auditor General and Public Accounts Committee of parliament,
I weep for mother Ghana and posterity on how people waste and abuse funds and
their offices meant for development due to selfishness, negligence and
sometimes their own stupidity.
Political actors have always been noted to be the
lead in this canker. Sadly, the
discussions in the political circles suggest to me that, political parties all
admit to be engaging in corruption but then, the debate is who is more corrupt.
Are we not funny as a country?
As we continue to be filled with pain in our hearts
on what corruption has done to our country, it is important that, we reflect as
non-political actors how we also contribute to the decay in our country.
As health professionals, do we realize the number of
lives we loose and deform due to negligence, lateness, wrong diagnosis and
subsequently medication?
As teachers and academics, do we realize the quality
or type of knowledge we impart to our students due to our negligence?
As civil servants, do we ponder over the number of
lives and properties destroyed due to our negligence and in some instances
office been influenced?
As religious leaders, do we realize the kind of
persons we have produced with our wrongful and way-ward sermons?
As private entrepreneurs, have we for once thought
of how understating of profit in order to pay less tax have caused damage to
our country?
The list goes on and on but the point is, the pain,
anger and malice that fills our minds and hearts when we read, hear or see
cases of corruption in our political circles must be applied to ourselves as we
ponder over how our negligence and selfishness continues to contribute to the
decay in our country.
Let us not be too fast to advocate for a political
revolution in the fight against corruption but probably consider a proper
revolution in our minds and hearts led by our conscience and attitudes if
indeed a revolution is needed to fight this cancer.
As I sat in an ethics class as an undergraduate
student and we pondered and discussed over corruption and how to address it, my
professor and lecturer took us through a simple mind-blowing test
which I would love to share.
As a class, he sampled some of us and asked us if we
will be willing to accept bribes or abuse our offices as subordinates knowing
our bosses will never accept bribe or engage in any form of negligence. Almost
all the respondents said they will not even think of engaging in it.
He further asked the same respondents if they will
compromise their office knowing very well with evidence or even with a
perception that, their bosses are corrupt. The narrative changed and this time,
almost all of the respondents said they will accept and engage in it.
The import of this exercise is that, leadership is
an effective tool in the fight against corruption. With even a perception or
misconception of corrupt leaders, subordinates are likely to engage in such
acts of corruption and the cycle and decay will continue.
We need leadership not just political but in all
spheres of life who will not just preach sermons against corruption but live by
deeds that, they abhor, detest and never engage in corruption. Leadership who
will be willing to sanction and not shield corrupt subordinates. A total revolution of our minds and attitude
led by our conscience is also key. I pray that, the appointment of Hon. Martin
Amidu will put the fear of the lord in us as the president mentioned in his
outdooring of the special prosecutor nominee.
By:
Kwame Ohene-Ntow.
YALI Dream,
A Better Ghana,
A Brighter
Africa.
The writer is a graduate student of Development
Policy and Planning at KNUST and an
alumnus of Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI).
EMAIL:vincentntow12@gmail.com
May, 2019
Great piece. Africans need good leaders not 'good politicians'
ReplyDeleteSure we really need good leaders.. thank you
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