We often have the tendency to harp on about corruption in our society; about how it permeates all facets of our lives and about how it’s detrimental to our development as a people.
Someone sitting somewhere would think you were making a mountain out of a molehill, but anyone who knows even the tiniest bit about Ghana would recognize the truth in that, events in the country would never allow us forget it.
The most recent example of the rot at the National Service Scheme only serves to illustrate what we knew all along. It is nothing new; what the problem is is that we continue changing administrations and no solution looks anywhere in sight.
The famous refrain our politicians reach for, is that show us the evidence and we would prosecute the corrupt officials. It was one of the more ignominious pronunciations made by our former president.
In recent times however, we have clearly seen the evidence of corruption yet no one seems to be paying for it. Until we make stern examples out of those found guilty, and make it so that the punishment makes the crime not worth it, it’s a problem we are always going to contend with.
President Mahama has been in the USA for the past week or two, during which time he has made several speeches which really seem disconnected from what is happening back home. It’s almost like the Ghana he is talking about is different from the one we all live in.
In one of the speeches, he pledged that anyone found guilty by the commission of enquiry into the world cup would be punished severely. It’s all well and good to say it, but his action after the world cup ended show that is a pipe dream no one should count on.
What transpired in Brazil was enough, even looking in from the outside, to guarantee that heads should roll. Instead the one in charge of it all, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, was reassigned to the presidency in what has to be the worst punishment of all time.
Since then events at the commission has not made things any better, but that is more taxpayers cedis being thrown into a sinkhole to tell us what we already know. And if the president threat is to be followed through, a whole bunch of people would have consequences to face if this commission ever finish their proceedings.
I think we can all agree that probably wouldn’t happen.
The best way would have been to have seen some heads roll even before this commission was set up. If the President had demonstrated intolerance for corruption and incompetence immediately after the world cup, letting people go willy-nilly who were in any way related to the fiasco, the fear of God would have been put into future appointees and we would all take him a little seriously on this threat.
As it stands, not so much. Corruption would remain endemic in our society and recent examples are ample proof that nobody feels threatened. Even when discovered, the worst you could hope for is being asked to proceed on leave; at best you would be reassigned to a possibly more profitable job.
Until we device sterner punishments for those discovered to have stolen from the public purse, make is in such a way that people see the punishment would not be worth the crime, nothing is going to change.
Talk is cheap, as the saying goes. There are many ways to take a stand against corruption; a commission of enquiry and boasting to the American public does not qualify.
Why can’t Ghanaians especially Akans/Asantes, Ga’s, Fantis rise up and take over the from these wicked ndc! The problem is we’re being hi-jacked by minorities like ewes and northerners who don’t have the nation at heart. These people were always in the background when wise Akan, Asante, Ga and Fanti men were competently managing the affairs of the country but due to their greedy and evil nature they decided to take over by force and the result we now have is a disaster. We shall take back what belongs to us!
Why can’t Ghanaians especially Akans/Asantes, Ga’s, Fantis rise up and take over the from these wicked ndc! The problem is we’re being hi-jacked by minorities like ewes and northerners who don’t have the nation at heart. These people were always in the background when wise Akan, Asante, Ga and Fanti men were competently managing the affairs of the country but due to their greedy and evil nature they decided to take over by force and the result we now have is a disaster. We shall take back what belongs to us!