GII calls for swift action on corruption

The Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) on Monday urged stakeholders, especially public institutions, to initiate actions to implement the National Anti- Corruption Action Plan (NACAP).

It said the three arms of government must set a sterling example in implementing the NACAP in a statement to commend Parliament for approving the plan.

NACAP is a policy document that requires a bipartisan action by stakeholders, including the three arms of government, the private sector and civil society towards prosecuting corrupt officials and institutions.

A statement signed by Ms Mary Awelana Addah on behalf of the Executive Director GII claimed the government had for a long time failed to establish a track record of prosecuting public officials for engaging in corruption or even firing such officials for corrupt behaviour.

“In cases where government has attempted investigating allegations of corruption, no action follows such investigations,” the GII stated.

According to the GII, the Public Procurement Authority had never sanctioned any public officer or barred any company for engaging in corrupt conduct, thus creating the impression that there was no corruption in the procurement process.

It said citizens were not taking advantage of the Whistle Blowers’ Act for fear of being victimised or for lack of confidence in the government’s ability or willingness to act on any such complaints.

The GII said the Audit reports were hardly implemented, in spite of the President’s order to the Attorney-General to prosecute public officials cited in the reports for defrauding the state of taxpayers’ money.

The GII appealed to Ghanaians to play its part in educating citizens on the NACAP and bringing to the attention of the government instances of corruption, especially those reported to its Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre (ALAC).