There is need for efficient utilization of limited resources and the avoidance of corruption to attract more investors to bring about economic growth and poverty reduction, Mr John Nkaw, Programme Officer of SEND Ghana has stated.

He said “There is the need to increase the political will and efforts to fight corruption in order to reap the fruits of democracy and increase donor resources.”

Mr Nkaw stated this when he made a presentation on the topic: “Manifestation of Corruption in Ghana” at a sensitization forum on the country’s anti-corruption framework organized by SEND Ghana in Tamale.

The forum, which was to empower citizens on how to hold duty bearers accountable and demand for change, formed part of activities under the anti-corruption project dubbed: “Accountable Democratic Institutions and Systems Strengthening (ADISS)”.

The ADISS project is being implemented by SEND Ghana in collaboration with Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) and Ghana Anti-corruption Coalition, with funding from the United States Agency for International Development.

It is to ensure a robust and effective legal framework preventing and sanctioning corruption. It also seeks to increase the ability of anti-corruption civil society organisations to motivate the public to apply pressure on policy makers and institutions to fight corruption.

Mr Nkaw said corruption was becoming more and more common in the country adding “The majority of Ghanaians feel compelled to bribe for basic services or rights”.

He said corruption continued to be a developmental challenge because media reports and surveys conducted by institutions such as the Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), GII and Transparency International pointed to the fact that the practice was rife in the country.

He said that many businesses had had to make unofficial payments as a condition to secure contracts adding “There is also evidence of persons being victimised by political or public leadership, and a lack of confidence in the governance system, which make it difficult for the fight against corruption especially by individuals.”

Mr Nkaw said “The lack of confidence in systems and institutions results in people adopting various unorthodox ways to obtain goods and services even when they are entitled to them.”

He said commitment by various governments to fight corruption in the country had failed largely because of “Inadequate supervision and weak oversight, weak and under-resourced state accountability institutions, which are supposed to prosecute corruption”.

Mr Adam Nantogmah Baani, Regional Anti-corruption Focal Person of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, encouraged citizens to report acts of corruption as they would receive protection under the Whistleblowers Act.

Mr Baani, who made a presentation on the Whistleblowers Act and the National Anti-corruption Action Plan, said combating corruption was a collective responsibility and encouraged all to join hands to tackle the practice to secure and sustain the country’s development.

There was also a presentation by the Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre, which is a mechanism that receives complaints of corruption and follows it to ensure that they receive redress.