Francis Npong, Dalun, N/R
The Executive Secretary of the Department of Human Development of the National Catholic Secretariat, Mr Samuel Akologo Zan has advocated naming and shaming of corrupt leaders to reduce Ghana’s corruption perception index rating.
According to him, to reduce corruption in the country Ghanaian citizens must take bold steps to not only name and shame corrupt leaders but reward honesty and integrity.
Mr. Zan who was speaking at the 21st Denmark Seminar event organized by Ghana Developing Communities Association (GDCA) a Nongovernmental organization based in the Northern Region said the refusal by Ghanaians to accept the existence of corruption hinders progress in the fight against the canker.
The Demark Seminar is a platform used to discuss, deliberate on issues of national and community interest. It is also a platform for knowledge and idea exchange between organization and its Danish partners on community development and advocacy issues.
This year’s event was organized under the theme “Corruption: A Perception or Reality” and brought delegates from 14 districts including Yendi, Chereponi, Gushiegu, Karaga, Kumbungu, Tolon among others in the region.
The event which rotates on District bases was hosted by Chereponi District. He said the consistent demand for proof of evidence stifles the fight against corruption and that the only way “we can deal with this is begin to point fingers at the corrupt persons in society or by disassociating ourselves from them”, he said.
Mr Zan who spoke on the topic: “The Manifestations of Corruption in Every day Life: How Do We Confront Them,” said “we must do things that seem to be encouraging people who indulge corrupt practices.
He said corruption practices do not hinder progress of development it always weakens institutional structures and should be avoided.
He urged Ghanaians to do more in the fight against corruption practices failure of which he said would cause the nation the near future.
“Corrupt people should not be accorded respect in society to deter other people from indulging in the act”, he said.
Mr. Zan urged chiefs, ordinary Ghanaian, and leaders of this nation to desist from any form of action that benefits only a section of Ghanaians saying such actions do not help the fight against corruption in the country.
The Chairman of GDCA Prof. Abubakari Alhassan in a speech read on his behalf stressed the need for citizens’ empowerment. He said Ghanaians in general must be committed to fighting against corruption in the country. He also stressed on the need for open and transparent governance, and rule of law.
Prof Alhassan who is also the chief of Gushie (Gushie Naa) said GDCA remained committed to its core mandate as an organization to human empowerment, provision of skills, livelihoods and advocacy on critical issues affecting development and livelihoods. He said GDCA is also determining to ensure that all children on school going age have access to basic education, and livelihood development. This he said formed the basic principle of GDCA which the management remained committed to this core mandate.
Other topics discussed during the meeting were “corruption in governance, what can ordinary citizens do, presented by Dr. Esther Offei Aboagye, Director of Local Government Institute, “The experience of corruption in Ghana from a foreigner’s perspective” by Leif Rasmussen, “the effects of corruption on the citizens” Prof. Amin Alhassan, Dean, of Agribusiness, university for Development Studies, and “Is corruption part of our culture” by chief Amadu Alhassan, Northern Regional Director, population council.
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