The Project coordinator for Centre for Development of People (CEDEP), Abba Oppong has stated that government’s zero tolerance approach to fighting corruption has been a mere lip-service, the reason for its persistence in most of government institutions and other sectors in the country.
In an interview with the paper, government she noted can never win the fight against the deep seated corruption suffocating the country so long as effective measures are not set in motion to tackle the canker.
Despite many interventions put out by the governing authorities, the nation, she stressed is still riddled with myriads of issues relating to bribery and other acts of corruption at both private and public institutions.
She opined that Ghana at the moment does not require additional laws and institutions to fight corruption since the nation has enough laws and institutions in existence. “What we need at the moment is the effective enforcement of the existing laws by the institutions we have without fear or favour.
“The nation's fight against corruption must be waged on the grounds of absolute neutrality irrespective of one’s political, religious or ethnic affiliation.”
Speaking to the paper during an anti-corruption workshop on the mandate of key anti-corruption institutions coordinated by CEDEP and Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition in Kumasi, Madam Oppong challenged that it is high time decision making bodies are lobbied to ensure that the laws are strengthened to prevent public officers from engaging in bribery and acts of corruption, adding that citizens should as well be made to understand that any service they gain from public offices should be paid for at an approved fee.
Bright Sowu, a research officer for Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition challenged the political class to push for the enforcement of the laws of Ghana and the passing of the right to Information Bill.
Declaration of Asserts by public and private officials, he underlined, should also be intensified as a matter of urgency to save the situation. He added that citizens should as well take it up as a duty to report on corruption related cases to the appropriate quarters.
The workshop formed part of a USAID funded project titled Accountable Democratic Institutions and Systems Strengthening executed in 50 districts across the country. The overall purpose of the project is to help reduce corruption in Ghana
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