The President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, has diagnosed the massive uncontrolled corruption currently suffocating Ghana.
Bishop Gyamfi is sad over the country’s persistent impoverishment despite its status as an oil producer, and the debilitating impact of uncontrolled corruption, which, to him and other Ghanaians, appears pervasive and almost legalised.
The Head of the Catholic Bishops questions the efficacy of the current democratic system, which appears to benefit only a privileged few, while leaving the majority of the population wallowing in poverty.
Additionally, he is worried about the audacious impunity and arrogance displayed by some politicians in defending corrupt practices.
The Chronicle finds the submission by the Bishop most insightful and a wakeup call for state actors, especially the political class, to be patriotic enough and accept the fact that no matter how hard they try to wash away the impact of their action on state resources, the current and future generations shall forever refer to them as the ‘destroyers’ of the country.
It is common knowledge that the level of deterioration, as well as the surge in corruption in various sectors of the economy, is most alarming, and we are certain that if not for the principles of democracy, many citizens would have taken on most politicians for the manner in which they have cheated the people.
Indeed, The Chronicle is worried that successive governments keep borrowing with the pledge to use the funds to develop the country, yet nothing is happening. Governments ask the people to vote for them, but the people cannot ask for development.
The Chronicle would like to re-ask some of the questions the Bishop asked our politicians, and we pray that our state actors, who have the responsibilities to manage our resources, would find time to reflect on these questions and provide answers for the people.
* Why are we in this economic and financial quagmire, after all the monies generated internally and externally?
* What should Ghanaians do, since the existing form of democracy helps only a few and leaves the majority behind?
* Why are some politicians defending corruption with impunity and arrogance?
* Should the Constitution not be changed, or made better for it to work for all Ghanaians instead of a few?
* Should the legal system not be re-equipped to uproot corruption?
* Why is the interest of the people being sacrificed for personal and party interests in Parliament?
* Why have we not implemented the findings of the Constitutional Review Committee?
* Can the governments explain to us why we are in this economic mess?
* What explanations can the two leading political parties (NPP/ NDC) give to Ghanaians for the unfavourable agreements we sign on our oil, minerals, power generation etc.?
* Countries that have natural resources in abundance are rich. Why do we remain poor?
The Chronicle joins forces with the Catholic bishops in pointing out to our politicians that Ghanaians no longer accept the old explanations that governments have been giving.
From all indications, governments have taken the people for granted, and from history when the people are taken for granted for too long, they revolt.
We do not wish the citizens to revolt, but from the arrogant posture of our politicians, The Chronicle would not be surprised if the people rise up against the government in defence of their interest.
The result could be devastating. To avoid that, we wish to call on our politicians, especially those who constantly insult the intelligence of the people, to sit up, think twice, and save the country from destruction by their actions.
Our state actors are guilty, and the time to return to innocence is now!
