Fighting Ghana's Corruption - the way forward

GhanaWeb
Adidi-Dadzie, Kwesi Ampong



It was interesting to read in the Ghana News of Thursday, January 20, 2011 that in his first term of office, President Barack Obama and his family were showered with expensive gifts including gifts worth over US$300,000 from King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz. Ghana’s First Lady, Ernestina Naadu Mills also presented gifts worth a total of US$48,000. (Source; http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=201612&comment=0#com). Apparently, all these gifts, among others, went to the US National Archives since US law bars government officials from receiving gifts from foreign governments.

If the USA has a law like this, why wouldn't they develop? These are some of the little things Africa needs to carefully learn from the US, taking into consideration our particular socio-economic situation. I know people will start bring politics into this and start mentioning NPP and NDC - which wouldn’t help. Why can’t we learn lessons from such a revelation? As usual, NPP and NDC will start accusing each other. But, you see, there is a proverb in Akan literally translated as ‘’when two bulls or goats fight it is usually the field or grass that suffers’’.
Ghana, as a country, needs to learn a moral lesson from this article or revelation. Apparently, I guess all the countries and government officials who showered Obama and his wife with expensive gifts didn't know they were all going to the National Archives, and not for their personal use - Oh, what a pity.
When a country has a law that bars government officials from receiving presents from foreign governments and their officials, I think it contributes heavily to the fight against corruption. Such a law, in Ghana, could be a major factor in the fight against corruption. And, in the case of Ghana, it shouldn't only be gifts from foreign governments and their officials but, also, gifts from corporate bodies and their officials, whether in-country or from outside. This could help reduce the high level of ''kick-backing'' and bribery in Ghana.
Leaders in Africa need to put pragmatic structures and legislation in place to fight corruption. They need to stop this whole verbal campaign against corruption and put in place reasonably practicable rules and regulations. This is because, the high level of Corruption in Africa, especially Ghana, is not with the people, but the system. Our people are generally not corrupt - they have morals, but it is the inherently corrupt system that makes them corrupt. Not until we change the nature of the system, the fight against corruption will continue to elude Africans.
Why will an aspiring MP speak against corruption when incumbent MPs accept bribes or ''kick-backs'', but does same when he becomes a sitting MP. How many times have government officials stolen from national coffers, but when asked about the source of their wealth attributed it to gifts from friends. Yet the so-called friends are never wealthy as they are. How many times have the SFO and the BNI clashed in the discharge of their duties? Yet, instead of harmonising their duties other institutions, such as Office of Accountability, are created. Has corruption in the construction sector and the awarding of government/Sate contracts reduced since the introduction of the Procurement Act or the competitive or Open-bidding/tendering process. It is just surprising that even when processes have been laid down, the same people who laid them down go behind them.

Our leaders need to stop the talking and start acting. They need to stop expressing government commitments to fight corruption and, rather, show or proof that commitment. Mounting a platform and declaring a zero-tolerance commitment to corruption never helped us, and neither will the setting up of mere institutions help if there are no rules and regulations to follow. The question is, on what basis are those institutions going to pursue corruption cases? Is it just base on our current criminal law? Perhaps the fight against corruption among government officials should be handled like the game of football – if a ball is handled in the 18-yard box a penalty is awarded and if found to be deliberate, a red card is given. Precise and concise rules and regulations have to be adopted to fight corruption in the same manner. All we need are

• a code of conduct or simple rules and regulations for public officials to follow;
• an autonomous institution – well resourced to operate freely without political interference;
• the need for the head and other top officials of the said corruption fighting institution to be appointed based on credentials and experience and not on political affiliation. Appointment based on political affiliation is, in itself, corruption. How can a football player be a player and a referee on the same field at the same time, and,
• An incentive system to be developed and implemented to reward officials and corporate bodies who play according to the rules.

LET UNITED STATES COMPANIES WORK ON GHANA HIGHWAYS!

By Desmond Ayim-Aboagye (Ph.D.)


A few days ago we suggested that Ghana ought to have superb highways to guarantee proper connections in the country. These will boost Ghana's attempt to spearhead its ultimate desire to industrialise and bring out its citizens from poverty or economic hardship. These highways, as we have suggested, are essential for the citizens and investors to be able to travel faster in the country, and also to ensure that the foodstuffs produced in the abundance all over the country by the Ghanaian farmers, are not wasted in the regions because of lack of availability of proper roads to convey them to the demand source of the booming economy. There is the urgent need for the Republic of Ghana to supplement the railway sector with superb highways of first class, which are often seen in the United States of America. These super highways will assist the emerging industries, which will be scattered around the distant parts of the country.

To continue the debate we commenced, we suggest that companies in the USA should be awarded these giants infrastructures, as China has already begun with the Railway Sector and, therefore, we do not have to put too much burden on their companies and our companies at home. In the following, I discuss the fact that though we can count on our own local companies in accomplishing these great tasks, still we believe a team-up with America companies will energise the attempts to bring in into the country as many foreign firms as we can to take part in our development. These shall give Ghana the opportunity to attract other foreign companies who trust USA's presence, and to serve as impetus to our booming economy. These preliminary arrangements concerning the groundwork plan of these first class roads will need the cooperation of our competent engineers and surveyors as well; who could also contribute to with their splendid knowledge to make this preliminary groundwork becomes a reality.

One strong reason why I underline the need to give this giant country the giant part of the development of our infrastructures is expertise. In the Western world, no country can beat the USA in terms of their road systems, and how they are built to withstand all weathers, including our own tropical weather and rain storms. They have the knowledge, as they themselves had met or experienced enormous catastrophes in the country since this great nation was founded. So, in order not to waste too much money on novice companies and their haphazard work, we should employ their companies to come and accomplish this great work for Ghana.

The second reason why I should be glad beyond measure to suggest that Ghana enlists companies from the USA is that, America has deep and affectionate interest in Ghana. We have a common history, as many of our brothers are living there; some just recently migrated while others had been seriously involved in the building and beautifying of this great country.

Finally, in order not to anger the USA that we are working only with China and therefore had abandoned her, we need to invite her to have her share of help us with something that she is best known in the whole world as having the best competence in that. It is obvious that America will not turn her back to us if we implore them to come and work on such a great investment, which will open doors to other avenues in the continent that had supplied both human resources and material resources to build America.

AFRICA HIGHWAYS NAMES/SIGNS
To conclude this peace of work, I shall reiterate that the major roads in Ghana should be four in number, and they should be numbered in order to conform to the international manner of constructing and maintaining national assets such as roads. These main roads will be registered as:

1. Africa Highways (AH) to be numbered AH1, AH2, AH3, AH4, AH5, etc. These are the continental roads leading to neighbouring African countries. We envisage that the rest of Africa shall follow suit to build their roads to conform to the international standard.

2. Domestic roads D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6 etc. These are the subsidiaries of the Africa Highways, and they shall be the main roads in the country, which shall connect the regional capitals.

3. Local Roads L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L6, L7, L8, L9, L10, L11, etc. These connect urban areas in the country, and

4. Villages Roads. These may be tarred roads or untarred roads in the outskirts, leading to major towns and villages in the country. V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, V,6, V7, V8, V9, V10, V11, V12, V13, V14, V15, V16, V17 etc.

It is estimated that, in and around the country, all roads will be named following these categories given above. Certainly, it is possible for the competent engineers and surveyors in the country to modify them, if they find these suggestions interesting and something to work with. I am also aware that the companies who will secure the jobs shall also consider using their own signs.

AFRICA HIGHWAYS
A. From the current capital city of Accra through the Western coastal plains of the country through to Ivory Coast.

B. From the East of Accra through Koforidua and Ho to Togo.

C From Accra through Kumasi, Sunyani, Tamale, Bolgatanga to Burkinafaso

D. Finally, there should be another highway from Ho through the Afram plains to the Northern part of Ghana. That is, Tamale or beyond to join the Accra-Bolgatanga highway.

OTHER SUBSIDIARIES OF THESE FIRST CLASS HIGHWAYS
E. From Western part of Sunyani to the Ivory Coast (Yamoussoukro). (Domestic 1or D.1)

F. From the Afram plains highway lane, one could construct another highway/subsidiary through the Okwahu plateau serving those regions to join the ACCRA-Kumasi Highway. (Domestic 2 or D.2)

G.From the Afram plains highway lane one could also construct a highway/subsidiary lane through Begoro and to join the Koforidua-Ho Highway. (Domestic 3 or D.3)

H. From Accra-Tamale highway one can also construct a subsidiary road to the east/right joining Togo-Dahomey-Nigeria (Kano). (Domestic 4 or D.4)

SOME REMARKS
To follow international standard, and also to be able to locate places outside the towns and cities, where private persons or rich people have their domicile, it necessary that all private roads leading to private houses of individuals, co-operations, firms, as well as industries in isolated places in the bush, by law should be given names by them. Failure to give names to private roads leading to houses, even minor ones, must be prosecuted by the government of Ghana.