Accra (Greater Accra) 21 May '99

Members of parliament on Thursday re-echoed the need to eliminate corrupt practices from the society.

They were of the consensus that unless members of the society re-examined themselves and refrained from wrong doings, corruption would persist.

Alhaji Kojo Mama Adam, Member for Techiman South said he regretted that there is a tendency in this country to over amplify a few major problems that plague society, while the numerous little ones, which have far-reaching cumulative impact are down-played.

Alhaji Adam, who is also the Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister pointed out that little things matter as much as big ones, and therefore charged society to educate its members to appreciate the importance of these little negative things and to eliminate them.

The Deputy Regional Minister said all wrong doings in society are bad no matter their magnitude, but wondered why society appears to be selective in what it should detest.

He, therefore, underscored the need to seriously and comprehensively re-orient the value system, especially in the light of "our emerging democracy and on-going social change such that everything that impacts negatively on society is given ample focus and severely condemned and sanctioned".

Alhaji Adam lauded both the Catholic Church and the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice for leading the campaign against corruption and for organising a seminar on integrity.

Corruption, he said, is a vice that needs a sustained attack to keep it down because it re-surfaces in subtle forms when the fight abates.

For this reason, Alhaji Adam urged religious bodies, youth organisations, social clubs and other identifiable groups to join in the crusade to sensitise the people in order to rid society of this canker.

Associating themselves with the statement, some members on both sides of the House contended that unless Ghanaians tackled the issue collectively, the nation could not develop.

Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, NPP-Asante-Akim North, who was the first to contribute, categorised corruption into two groups, namely, petty and grand, and said corruption can be minimised, if government acted swiftly in raising the salary levels of workers.

Mr Baah-Wiredu blamed corrupt practices in society on weak laws and said when there are weak acts and laws, the fight against corruption in society becomes a big problem.

Mrs. Vida Amaadi Yeboah, NDC-Akwapim South, appealed to Ghanaians to refrain from the "one for me, one for you" attitude, adding that when talking about issues in society that matter, equal attention ought to be paid to the trivial ones.

Mr Kosi Kedem, NDC-Hohoe South, pointed out that "we cannot condemn corruption when we desire to enjoy its 'good' things".

Mr Kedem urged parents to set examples worthy of emulation by the younger generation.

"No nation is better than its people, for when a nation is corrupt, its people become corrupted."