By Dennis Peprah, GNA
Dumasua (B/A), Sept. 18, GNA – Two traditional rulers in the Brong-Ahafo Region on Monday, took a swipe at anti-corruption advocates, institutions and campaigners calling on them to come out with concrete steps in the fight the menace in the country.
The chiefs said corruption remains a serious societal burden and it required realistic approach and serious social intervention to control the practice.
“It seems we are not serious as a nation. Every day we all see the Police on the road extorting monies from drivers. We don’t do anything positive about that, but we are always preaching against corruption”, said Nana Bofo Bene II, the Vice President of the Brong-Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs.
Speaking at a multi-sectoral stakeholders land forum held at Dumasua in the Sunyani West District, Nana Bene II, who is the Paramount Chief of Dwenem-Awasu Traditional Area in the Jaman South Municipality, expressed discomfort about the lack of political will in tackling issues of corruption.
Successive governments, he said, have failed the nation in the fight against all forms of corrupt practices but lauded Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s government for the zeal and commitment to bring the national challenge under control.
The forum was organised by the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), local chapter of Transparency International (TI), a global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption.
It was attended by civil society and private sector actors, government agencies, youth groups and non-governmental organisations.
In line with the Land and Corruption in Africa Project, being implemented by the GII, the forum which was facilitated by the Centre of Posterity Interest Organisation (COPIO), a local anti-corruption NGO,- the forum created opportunity for relevant stakeholders to come together to deliberate on policies and reforms in the land sector.
The GII’s Land and Corruption in Africa Project among others seeks to empower the citizenry to defend the land and tenure right and to demand transparency and accountability from their governments to end corruption in the land sector.
Okatakyie Amoa Aturu Nkonkonsia II, the Paramount Chief of Japekorm Traditional Area, said corruption remains the bane of accelerated national development as the challenge has denied many Ghanaians access to justice, quality education and healthcare.
He said until government, anti-corruption campaigners and all relevant institutions collaborated effectively and attached seriousness to it, the campaign against the practice would not yield any useful outcome.
Mr Michael Okai, the Programmes Director of GII, said the effects of corruption in the land sector were enormous as the challenge has denied citizens access to potable drinking water, shelter and food.
Corruption, he said, has influence on the lives of every citizen, hence the need for everyone to support the fight against the practice.
Alhaji Mohammed-Abibu Alhassan, the Brong-Ahafo Regional Lands Officer, said the sector was bedeviled with serious corrupt practices.
Currently, he said, the Land Bill was at its final stage of review by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Lands and Natural Resources, hoping that with the passage of the Bill, challenges in the land sector would be addressed.
GNA
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