CHRAJ SLAMS GHANA'S WAR ON CORRUPTION...'we pay lip service'

CHRAJ SLAMS GHANA’S WAR ON CORRUPTION.

A Deputy Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, Richard Atta Quayson says Ghana has over the years paid lip service to the fight against corruption.

Speaking at the launch of the country review of the implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption in Accra, Mr Atta Quayson said, as a nation, Ghana has learnt no lessons from her encounter with the canker of graft.

Quoting former UN Sec General Kofi Annan, the Deputy CHRAJ commissioner said poverty hurts poor people in developing countries more disporportionatley by diverting scarce resources intended for development and making it difficult to meet  their fundamental needs such as food, health and education.

 Mr Atta Quayson stressed that while no nation has escaped the ravaging effects of the canker of corruption, some have shown that they have learnt their lessons. Regrettably, he noted, the same cannot be said for Ghana.

‘I would like to reiterate that Ghana must begin to demonstrate that it has learnt its lessons from corruption. We have turned a blind eye too often to corruption. We have encouraged corrupt practices too often to gain political advantage. We have paid lip service for far too long. It is time to act decisively’

Corruption in Africa, the Deputy CHRAJ commissioner, who is also the Chairman of the Ghana Review Committee says, is deeply rooted in weak institutions, processes and the capacities of African countries.

‘The UN recently disclosed that political corruption alone costs governments about 1 point three trillion US dollars every year. …Many public officers, either before or after performing a public duty, expect a motivation or 'thank you' in material form: weight, money and hampers at Christmas among others. Whether Ghana has learnt hard lessons from being hospitable to corruption is a matter for us all to ponder’

Richard Atta Quayson said the UN Convention against Corruption, which Ghana ratified in 2007, has adopted the use of prevention, education and law enforcement as the best approach to fighting graft across the globe.