CORRUPTION is one major stumbling block to the development of African countries. It is what accounts for the lack of quality schools, hospitals, potable water, good roads among others in many of our communities.
IN Ghana, for instance, it is estimated that we lose close to US$3billion of the taxpayer’s money every year to corruption. A lot of development projects can be done with such an amount of money.
WE agree that successive governments have made some efforts to fight corruption. We have also heard some brilliant suggestions that when executed could help us deal with the corruption canker in this country.
BUT we must be blunt and say that there is more that we need to do, if indeed, we are bent on rooting corruption from our society. That means taking some very drastic measures.
ONE tool that President Akufo-Addo’s administration has told Ghanaians would be used to fight corruption during their tenure is the creation of the office of a Special Prosecutor. This office, we have been told, will be independent and will be given the legal backing to be able to prosecute corrupt officials, especially those at the top. That is something we will all want to see happen, especially as it will help, in no small measure, in our fight against corruption.
THE fight against corruption equally calls for more stringent measures to be put in place. This brings to mind a measure adopted by our neigbouring country, Nigeria, which measure is yielding positive dividends.
NIGERIA has been reported to have retrieved some US$151 million and eight billion naira ($26.32 million). This money, we understand, was stolen funds within a space of less than two months as part of an anti-graft drive.
THE success story of the Nigerians is tied to a whistleblower scheme which the country launched in December 2016 in which it was spelt out that those who provided information to the recovery of stolen state monies will be given five per cent of the amount recovered. And from the look of things it is working for the Nigerian government.
THE question is: why can’t we do the same in Ghana? What is indeed stalling the passage of the Whistleblower Act? The point is that the passage of such an act in this country will help retrieve millions of dollars as well as Cedis that have been stolen from state coffers. It will also deter many more from dipping their hands in state coffers or through induced nefarious crimes knowing too well that they would be found it one day and brought to book.
IN the United States, for instance, the Whistleblower Protection Act has been in existence as a Federal Law since 1989 and it is working for them. And according to Wikipedia, it “protects federal whistleblowers who work for the government and report agency misconduct. A federal agency violates the Whistleblower Protection Act if agency authorities take (or threaten to take) retaliatory personnel action against any employee or applicant because of disclosure of information by that employee or applicant.”
IF it is working for countries like Nigeria which just launched it three months ago then it behooves our Parliamentarians to take a critical look at passing the Whistleblower Act. It is an Act when passed will contribute largely towards our quest to dealing with corruption.
Join GhanaStar.com to receive daily email alerts of breaking news in Ghana. GhanaStar.com is your source for all Ghana News. Get the latest Ghana news, breaking news, sports, politics, entertainment and more about Ghana, Africa and beyond.
