Transparency International proves Ghana gov’t’s fight against corruption ineffective
The Ghanaian government’s fight to curb corruption in the public sector is said to be ineffective, a survey conducted by the Transparency International (TI) has shown.
According to the anti-corruption watchdog’s 2013 Global Corruption Barometer (GCB) released July 9, 2013, 54% of the 2000 respondents surveyed in Ghana reported that corruption has increased in the past two years (from 2011 to 2013).
Only 20% said that corruption had decreased in the country.
The GCB is a survey of the public’s perceptions and experiences of corruption. In Ghana, a total number of 2000 people were surveyed, comprising respondents from two MMDAs in each of the ten administrative regions.
Despite government’s efforts in curbing the act, the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), the local chapter of TI in Ghana, says only 30% of respondents have confidence in the government’s efforts in fighting corruption.
On the other hand, a number of respondents representing 57% said the government’s efforts in corruption fight were ineffective.
According to the survey, the Ghana Police Service topped the list of most corrupt institutions, followed by political parties.
It noted that 54% of the respondents who made contact with various public service institutions reported having paid a bribe. TI cited an example that of the 38% of the respondents who made contact with the Police, 79% paid a bribe while of the 21% of the respondents who made contact with the Lands Services such Lands Department, Land Valuation, Town and Country Planning and Land Title Registry, 52% paid a bribe.
According to TI, when the respondents were asked to state the reasons for which they had to pay a bribe, 30% of the respondents who paid a bribe said they did so because it was the only way to obtain the service they wanted while 45% paid a bribe because they wanted to speed up things.
It added that “only 18% of the respondents paid the bribe as a gift or a sign of gratuity while 8% of the respondents who paid a bribe did so in order to get a cheaper service”.
By Ekow Quandzie
I just returned from a trip to Ghana. Last week I encountered the following case of serious bribery that was commented by the people involved as normal practice.
A young woman graduated from Senior Highschool and wants to apply for the Police Academy to make a career in the police service.
Several attempts made by her and her family to get her enlisted failed.
As the girl originated from the Northern Region the family approached a member of parliament from the Northern Region. This MP asked them to pay him 1000 Ghcedis. Which they did. The girl is now admitted and will start her police education next month.
That is nice of the MP. By taking the bribe he has taught the girl already the most important and very valuable lesson every Ghanaian Police Officer learns and implements quickly.
Take it from whoever and whenever you can get some.