Ghana is not 3rd most corrupt country – Government
Government has described as extremely misleading a story published by myjoyonline.com and broadcast on Joy FM, claiming that a Gallup poll conducted in 129 countries, ranked Ghana as the third most corrupt country.
It said a thorough study of the Gallup poll shows that nowhere was it suggested that Ghana is the third most corrupt country among the 129 countries where the poll was conducted.
A statement signed by Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Deputy Minister of Information and Media Relations and copied to Ghana News Agency at the weekend noted that the story is also repeated on several online portals.
It said: “In fact Ghana ranks much lower than the under listed countries… featured in the poll: Tanzania – 95 per cent, Czech Republic 94 per cent, Kenya – 93 per cent, Nigeria – 92 per cent, Chad -92 per cent, Greece – 92 per cent, Uganda- 91 per cent and Kosovo – 90 per cent.”
The statement said Ghana obtained the same score as Cameroon and Bosnia Herzegovina.
“It is also inaccurate for Joy FM to claim that the Gallup poll was conducted in 129 “Free Press” countries.
“According to the report on the poll put out by Gallup, the 129 countries were put in three categories namely, “Free Press” countries, ”Partly Free” Press countries and “Not Free Press countries.”
It said Ghana was classified in the “Free press” countries category alongside established democracies like the United States, Portugal, Italy, United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Australia and Norway – a development which Gallup acknowledges as an “indicator of good governance and development”.
It said Ghana was also one of only two countries in Africa to be classified as “Free Press” countries, the other being South Africa.
“While government encourages media organisations to take advantage of the unfettered media freedom that exists in the country, it also wishes to admonish them to ensure that truth, accuracy, balance and professionalism are adhered to in their work.
“Doing so will avert the churning out of clearly misleading reports like the one under reference.
“As far as corruption itself is concerned, government wishes to assure Ghanaians that it has taken steps to intensify the fight against the canker and remains committed to running an open, transparent and accountable government,” it said.
Source: GNA