The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) on Tuesday outlined moves to tighten the noose on the fight against corruption.

The commission said it would introduce accountability and transparency strategies in public, private and non-for profit institutions.

Mr Richard A. Quayson, Acting CHRAJ Commissioner who made this known explained that “it is time to infuse fearless honesty into the national behaviour and ignite collective sustained action with co-ordinated efforts, as well as the judicious application of resources of stakeholders to combat corruption”.

He noted that the anti-corruption noose tightening measures which are a roll-over from the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP) seeks to strengthen public capacity to condemn and fight corruption and make its practice a high-risk, low-gain activity.

It also hinges institutionalise efficiency, accountability and transparency in the public, private and not-for profit sectors; engage individuals, media and civil society organisations in the report and combat of corruption; and conduct effective investigations and prosecution of corrupt conduct.

Mr Quayson stated this at a two-day NACAP Monitoring and Evaluation validation workshop in Accra, added that corruption remains endemic in Ghana despite the wide array of measures pursued in the past to control the problem.

“Amidst growing perceptions of corruption, the public has become increasingly cynical about the official commitment to effectively tackle the menace.

“Confidence in the integrity of public office is fast eroding due to inadequate appreciation of the complex mix of factors implicated in corruption; lack of public participation in the development and implementation of the anti-corruption measures; and failure to foster local ownership in the formulation and implementation of the various strategies.

“Lack of effective and sustained coordination in the implementation of anti-corruption measures; and lackadaisical government commitment to, and limited support for, the implementation of anti-corruption strategies,” he noted.

The Acting CHRAJ Commissioner called for stakeholder involvement.

“We must all collectively move away from the talk, talk and act on issues of corruption, we must report incident of corruption from our work places.

“CHRAJ doors are open wide for anybody who smells corrupt practices at workplace or any public institution to walk in and report, we will protect your identity, and conduct our own investigations.

“It is only when we all open our eyes wide and other sense against corrupt practices only then can we fight it,” he said.

Mr Quayson noted that corruption in Ghana is largely nurtured and influenced by the patrimonial character of the society where informal relations, family connections and social reciprocity are reflected in levels of favouritism, cronyism and nepotism.

“Social and economic structures in Ghana exhibit a complex interplay between the traditional and the modern,” he observed.

The Acting CHRAJ Commissioner said cultural factors also play an important role in shaping our social and economic structures…“The culture of gift-giving and gift-taking, used in our culture to cement social and economic relationships, is perceived to create conditions for corruption.”

“The patronage system also fundamentally influences the formal system and creates contradictions between how institutions are intended to operate in principle and how informal practices supplant formal structures in reality.

“As a result, public administration and political competition often appear to be driven more by personal ties than formal rules”.

The NACAP Monitoring and Evaluation validation workshop was organised by CHRAJ in collaboration with the Office of President and other NACAP stakeholders.