The Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) is on a regional campaign tour galvanizing the private sector to join the crusade against corruption in Ghana.
With funding from DANIDA, the GII’s move forms part of its agenda to reduce corruption which is largely stifling the private sector’s growth.
The Anti corruption crusaders organized a one-day forum in Tamale which sought to identify the bottlenecks affecting the business community in Ghana.
The forum created a platform for the stakeholders to map out strategies required to strengthen transparency, accountability and business ethics for economic growth.
The Northern Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Alhaji Abdul Razak at the forum said corruption should be tackled as a human security threat.
“If Ghana’s business sector is going to grow then citizens need to have an enabling environment devoid of corruption. The biggest issue currently confronting private sector development is corruption, and as a result, people who have money to invest in the region are scared because of the challenges that they go through whenever they attempt to start their business.”
Over the years the private sector has suffered greatly because of our acts of omission and commission. People have a lot of money they wish to come and invest but the challenges that they go through is too much. Even a paper that you have to send for someone to sign is a problem and yet we want jobs for our children.”
According to Alhaji Saani, the NCCE conducted a survey on citizens? perception on corruption and uncovered that over 70% of the respondents tagged politicians as the most corrupt.
“Unless and until we break that problem, unless our citizens recognize the fact that corruption has to do with everything but our lives including even late coming to functions. When a teacher comes to school late, it?s corruption. When a doctor comes to the hospital late, it?s corruption,? he pointed out.
Alhaji Saani underscored the need the populace to show enough commitment in the fight against corruption by exposing people who are abusing state resources, engaging in dereliction of official duties, lying to cover up for others who commit crimes and engage in illegalities.
“The fight against corruption requires a collective action and all citizens must come together to fight the menace which is eating up the nation.”
The GII’s Coordinator of Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre (ALAC), Michael Okai said the local he business community is frought and saddled with many challenges.”
“The Port Clearance Procedures, long and laborious processes and procedures in setting up businesses, difficulties in obtaining permits and licenses, weak enforcement of standards allowing cheap and substandard goods entering our markets are some of the challenges.”
Corruption is the worse threat to the businesses operating in our economy, therefore tackling corruption will require the engagement of multiple stakeholders if we are going to make any headway.?
Mr. Okai said the GII with support from DANIDA under the expanded Tax and Development Programme will continue to coordinate and facilitate quarterly multi-stakeholder forums amongst businesses and the private sector, state actors and civil society organizations to identify, project and advocate a corruption free business environment in Ghana.
“The quarterly forums among other things seek to create an avenue or space for deliberations on challenges faced by the private sector in doing business in Ghana and elicit appropriate state institutions responses and agree on means of addressing identified challenges.”
“The forums will also create a community of practice for businesses to share their ideas and learn from other companies? anti-bribery policies that promote transparent and accountable business practices.”
He emphasized that “Public and civil servants must also cease all forms of unnecessary bureaucratic practices in their work places which in their view are breeding corruption.”
The GII is the local chapter of Transparency International and it is a non-partisan, non-profit civil empowerment organisation focused on the delivery of the essential themes necessary for the creation of a National Integrity System.
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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah | citinewsroom.com | Ghana
The post GII intensifies fight against corruption appeared first on Citi Newsroom.
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