Book on corruption in Ghana launched

Accra, Oct. 11, GNA- Mrs Lisa Aubrey, a Political Scientist from Ohio University, in the United States launching a Ghanaian authored book on corruption on Friday in Accra, said those who benefited from the vice condoned it and those who did not condemned it.

She said "the book talks about two-facets of corruption: One that condemns it when it does not benefit anyone and the other that condones it when it enhances one's welfare".

The title of the 131-page book, written by Mr Haruna Iddrisu, a legal practitioner and a politician is "Zero Tolerance: Public Sector Corruption in Ghana".

Mrs Aubrey described Mr Iddrisu as an activist and a scholar who had sought to reach the height of ethical standards in society. The book looks at the interrelationship between corruption and bad governance and seeks to instil in the Ghanaian the spirit of patriotism and the need to fight against corruption, she said.

Mr Iddrisu, who is also the National Youth Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) said the book identified institutions such as Public Procurement agencies and the Ministries, the Lands and Forestry and Trade and Industry where corruption has been found to be very real and evident.

Mr Iddrisus said, "zero tolerance for corruption is an ideal thing for this country that everybody has to fight for and it should not just be a rhetoric but rather should be popularised and efforts made to fight it.

He said he defined the concept of corruption and its underlining causes in the country and offered a theoretical explanation of the criminal act.

The book was dedicated to Mrs Joyce Markham, one of the Secretaries to the late Dr Kwame Nkrumah and the first copy was auctioned for three million cedis.