Corruption, wanton display of affluence have engulfed Ghana - Prof. Newman Kusi

The Executive Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, Ghana, Professor Newman Kwadwo Kusi has bemoaned what he called corruption, greed and wanton display of affluence in Ghana nowadays.

According to him, a large majority of Ghanaians are of the view that corruption has increased in the 'multi-party democratic environment, and that the pre-1992 revolutionary strategies to curb this destructive canker have been thrown out of the window, alluding to the fact, "corruption, greed and wanton display of affluence have also become serious problems currently confronting the country."

Professor Kwadwo Kusi made these remarks when he addressed hundreds of National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters at the second Revolutionary Lecture Series in honour of former President Jerry John Rawlings at the National Theatre in Accra.

The lecture was under the broader theme: "Revolutionary Economic Trends, Ghana in focus: Past, present and the future."

Speaking on the sub-theme, "Ghana's economic development past, present and the future", Professor Newman mentioned that," in Ghana today, where the politics of “winner-takes-all” is plunging the country into the abyss of underdevelopment, the need for good governance is sine qua non", it is very important therefore, that any political party in power or seeking to be voted into power should not only demonstrate its commitment to good governance but must outline the policies and strategies it will pursue to maintain good governance.



He said, the perception of deepening corruption in the public sector is driven by the numerous scandals that have recently hit public institutions, public servants and political office-bearers.

"Public confidence and trust in public institutions and State appointed officials have been eroded with the repeated blatant scandals involving massive impropriety and wanton dissipation of public resources", he alleged.

"Rethinking of Ghana's future development therefore calls for a critical need to seriously and swiftly deal with the issue of corruption" he added.



He intimated that "political parties wanting to be voted into office should demonstrate their willingness, capacity and strategies to clamp down on corruption in the public sector", adding that, "the recent appointment of a Special Prosecutor to deal with corrupt practices in the country is therefore a welcome decision."

He however, maintained that, the government of PNDC led by former President J. J. Rawlings and people of Ghana took a decisive step to return to a multi-party democracy in 1992 after a virtual meltdown in the 1980s.



What has been all the more laudable in Ghana’s case, is the steady progress made since the return to democratic rule in enhancing the democratic environment and pursuing economic transformation, he acknowledged.

The lecture was chaired by the former Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur and in attendance were former Ministers of Statement, former and some sitting Members of Parliament, the leadership of the National Democratic Congress and other former appointees, traditional rulers and some ex-MMDCEs.