The Chronicle yesterday carried a very interesting but controversial story, under the headline; “Corruption is in the DNA of Ghanaians – IEA Survey”.
According to the story, the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) recently carried out a survey to sample the opinion of Ghanaians on their perception of corruption in the country.
The survey revealed that Ghanaians do not think corruption could be eradicated in the country and that, the canker has become part and parcel of the Ghanaian society.
The survey, which sampled 1,500 people from all parts of the country, quoted 24% of them as saying that corruption is in the DNA of Ghanaians.
Speaking at a forum to discuss the findings, Professor Joseph Atsu-Ayee, Adjunct Senior Fellow at IEA said out of the 1,500 respondents, 60% and 40% were females and males respectively.
While 44% of the respondents said corruption could be reduced to a certain level, 19% argued that it could be substantially reduced, whereas 4.7% believed it could be eradicated completely.
Professor Atsu noted that, corruption attracts attention because of its debilitating and corrosive effects on politics, governance, economy, society and security.
However, efforts to nip the canker in the bud have proved unsuccessful because of how people understand the root cause of corruption.
“Strategies to curb corruption have failed because we have misunderstood the roots of corruption. Understanding the root causes of corruption is key in dealing with corruption,” he remarked.
The Professor argued that he disagrees with some of the respondents who claim that corruption in the system is as a result of low salaries paid to workers in the country, stressing that: “if you increase the salaries they will still be corrupt.”
He elucidated that the problem with Ghana is that “Ghanaians are acquisitive and materialistic. If you want to live good, work for it.”
Justice Emile Short, former Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), who was chairman for the event, added his voice to the debate and said corruption seemed to have lost its stigmatization.
The former CHRAJ boss shared his thoughts on the issue, saying living good and living in poverty does not create room for corruption.
One would have just dismissed the argument being put up by Professor Atsu, but the report coming from no less an institution like the IEA, with such a high reputation, The Chronicle believes that the issue must be look at dispassionately.
To all intent and purposes, The Chronicle observes that most people lay the blame on poverty, hardship, low wages and incomes in the country.
Indications are that not only are the poor responsible for corruption in the country, but the fact of the matter is that the rich, high income earners and those in high positions, both in government and public sector among others, are all corrupt.
Even though subsequent governments pride themselves that they have done well to curb the canker, yet the menace is still present. A school of thought believes that corruption is encouraged by those in government and perhaps the absence of laws to prosecute those in government and public service.
It seems Ghanaians have accepted and embraced the idea that bribery is okay (to give or to receive). Civil servants wantonly abandon their post or duties to pursue their own interest.
It is the duty of the government to eradicate corruption, which has put Ghana in a bad light in the eyes of the international community.
The Chronicle, therefore, wishes to call on the government to put in place measures that will help reduce corruption in the system.
For example, government must pass whistle blowers bill into law to encourage people to report such conducts for offenders to be prosecuted.
People, especially those at the grass root level, must also be educated on the consequences of corruption on the nation and on themselves.
Ultimately, The Chronicle wants to urge governments to be firm and discipline themselves, such that irrespective of who is involved in a corrupt practice, he or she would be brought to book.