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The Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has called on government to seize the current pro-anti-corruption political atmosphere in the country at the moment to take decisive and concrete action on the growing list of corruption cases in the country.

CDD-Ghana appealed to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to take advantage of the collective public support in the fight against corruption to tackle pervasive corruption in Ghana.

‘Ghana beyond Aid’ agenda under threat
According to CDD-Ghana, government’s ‘Ghana beyond Aid’ agenda and the mission of achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development can only be met if resources are not plundered for private gains and public institutions are transparent and accountable.

The governance think-tank quoted UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who said "we can only achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development if every nation has strong, transparent and inclusive institutions based on the rule of law and supported by the public.”

Rhetoric, setting up of institutions and enactment of laws
On the occasion of this year’s International Anti-Corruption Day, which falls on every December 9, CDD-Ghana, in a statement, noted that government’s commitment to fighting corruption goes beyond the rhetoric, the mere setting up of institutions, and enactment of laws.

“While we recognise weaknesses in some existing anti-corruption legislations, the centre is of the view that sufficiently resourcing existing public anti-corruption institutions, such as the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Auditor-General Office, State Prosecution Department, and the recently enacted Special Prosecutor’s Office; strengthening their independence; and having leadership with integrity for these institutions can lead to significant progress in the fight against corruption in Ghana,” it added.

Ghanaians are no longer passively watching corrupt acts
CDD-Ghana cautioned that it is important to note that Ghanaians are no longer passively watching corrupt acts manifest before their eyes.

64% of Ghanaians want corrupt officials prosecuted
The statement reminded government that the latest Afrobarometer Survey (2017) revealed that a vast majority (64%) of Ghanaians want corrupt officials prosecuted, stolen monies recovered, and offenders named and shamed.

The think-tank emphasised that this is a clear indication that citizens are united in their views for corrupt officials to be punished and looted resources retrieved.

‘No’ to corrupt acts
CDD-Ghana, therefore, calls on the government and all anti-graft state institutions to be cognisant of the willingness of Ghanaian citizens to fight corruption, and put mechanisms in place to empower citizens to voice out ‘NO’ to corrupt acts.

CDD-Ghana and its CSO partners pledge support
CDD-Ghana and its CSO partners, as well as the media, pledged to continue to be at the forefront of the campaign against corruption in the country.

“CDD-Ghana and its partners will again continue to unearth and magnify cases of corruption, educate the public, advocate stiffer punishments for officials who engage in corruption and present policy guides to aid stakeholders’ demand for accountability in the fight against corruption.

“We believe that we can unite in our collective quest to address the growing menace of corruption in our society so as to channel national resources to propel development”, the statement said.
Accordingly, the centre calls on the government, all state anti-corruption bodies, the private sector, media, civil society organisations (CSOs) and citizens to unite in the fight against corruption and create a zero tolerance approach to corruption.
This year’s International Anti-Corruption Day was commemorated under the theme ‘United against Corruption for Development, Peace and Security’,
This year’s international anti-corruption day advocates for resilient collaborative efforts by all sectors in the economy to eliminate corruption.