Anti-corruption crusaders, Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Martey, former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana and CEO of the Graphic Communications Group Limited have prescribed solutions aimed at reducing corruption in Ghana.
Speaking during the second public lecture organized by the Christian Service University College in Kumasi over the weekend, Mr. Ken Ashigbey attributed a rise in the scourge to weak political leadership, integrity crisis of leadershipand passivity of Ghanaians.
Mr. Ashigbey recommended a reinforcement of laws and introduction of penalties that should be meted out to culprits who engage in the canker that is stagnating the economy and the nation’s development.
Further, he called on Parliament to hasten the passage into law of the ‘Right to Information’ (RTI) Bill that has been lying fallow on the Floor of the House for the past years.
He added that the passage of that Bill would encourage greater transparency and accountability by public office holders.
On his part, Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Martey attributes the rise of corruption in Ghana to a constitutional gap that gives undue power to public office holders such as politicians.
Prof. Martey added that the culture of giving and receiving gifts in Ghana is also being misapplied by institutions, manifesting in the escalating accounts of corruption being covered in the media.
The former Moderator appealed to the public to make the anti-corruption fight a personal responsibility and stop it.
“Let us rise up and clean up corruption, this mercy scourge,” Prof. Martey added.
Moderator for the public lecture and the General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana, Rev. Dr. OpuniFrempong, also appealed to the Church to take proactive steps to educate their members and encourage them to desist from the practice.
President of the CSUC, Prof. Sam Afrane in his welcome address, indicated that CSUC hopes to play its part of enlightening citizens through the organization of such events.
The programme was jointly sponsored by the Graphic Communications Group of Companies Limited, Multimedia Group of Companies namely Luv and Nhyira FM, Ultimate Radio as well as pure-water producing companies.
