Accra: Professor Stephen Adei, a former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), has urged the government to classify grand corruption as a felony offence. He argued that equating corruption with serious crimes, such as murder, would ensure that offenders face severe legal consequences, thereby deterring others from engaging in corrupt practices. “We have to make grand corruption a felony in Ghana and must be treated in the same way as we treat murderers because they do more harm than them,” he said during the launch of the 25th-anniversary celebrations of the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) in Accra.
According to Ghana News Agency, Prof. Adei was speaking on the theme: ‘Twenty-five Years of Advancing the Vision of a Corruption-Free Ghana: Reflections on the Way Forward.’ He highlighted that corruption continues to pose a significant threat to national development, despite numerous efforts to combat it. Prof. Adei noted that the fight against corruption had not produced
the expected results, attributing this to a lack of interest and commitment from leadership over the years.
Prof. Adei expressed his belief that the major reason why corruption seems difficult to tackle is the leadership’s lack of genuine interest in fighting the issue. He stated, “Leadership is cause, everything else is an effect, and unless we discover a means to build the part of leadership and make them accountable for not only presiding over a corrupt system, possibly actively participating and at best, acquiescing it, we are not going to go anywhere.” He called for drastic measures, including making corruption a felony and tackling it in a more ruthless manner.
Prof. Adei advocated for the establishment of robust systems to combat corruption, suggesting that Ghana could emulate countries like Rwanda, Estonia, Denmark, Brazil, and Singapore, which have successfully addressed the issue. He urged the state to invest in digitalisation to minimise human interaction within various institutions, as a means o
f reducing opportunities for corrupt practices. He also proposed verifiable and open asset declarations for all political office holders and senior public servants, suggesting a legal basis for such measures.
Mr. Sammy Darko, Director of the Strategy, Research and Communication Division at the Office of the Special Prosecutor, expressed concern about the public’s apathy towards the corruption fight. He noted that while leadership is a problem, the public also seems disengaged, questioning why the passion and anger seen in other social issues are not replicated in the fight against corruption.
Mr. Joseph Whittal, Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), stressed the necessity of reversing the burden of proof in corruption cases. This approach would require public officials accused of corruption to prove their innocence, rather than placing that burden on state institutions. He praised the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) for its dedication to combating corruption and
shaping public policies over the past 25 years.
Mrs. Mary Addah, Executive Director of the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), highlighted the organization’s significant contributions to the fight against corruption in Ghana over its 25 years of existence. Established in 1999, GII is a non-partisan, non-profit civil organization dedicated to combating corruption and promoting good governance in Ghana. As the local chapter of Transparency International, GII plays a crucial role in the global fight against corruption, collaborating with civil society organizations in over 120 countries to enhance transparency and accountability. Mrs. Addah noted that GII had played a crucial role in advocating for the passage of key legislation, including the asset declaration and disqualification regime established in 1998, which has helped to enhance accountability and transparency in public service.
