What happens when a nation rewards deceit and punishes integrity? When dishonesty is celebrated and truth is overlooked, the very foundations of society begin to weaken. The consequences may not be immediate, but when they do, they are often devastating.
The world once woke up to shocking news: a celebrated Olympic champion, Marion Jones, had been stripped of all her medals, reputation, and honour.
Jones later confessed to using performance-enhancing drugs during major international competitions. In October 2007, she admitted to doping before the Sydney 2000 Olympics and lying to federal investigators. She was subsequently stripped of her five Olympic medals and sentenced to prison for making false statements and financial fraud.
Her downfall remains a powerful reminder that dishonest gains, no matter how celebrated, are ultimately unsustainable, as widely reported in international media, including The New York Times.
Local realities
This is not just a global story; it reflects a growing concern within our own society.
According to the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, Ghana scored 43 out of 100, ranking 76th out of 182 countries. The report highlights the weak enforcement of anti-corruption laws, the politicisation of institutions, and the slow pace of reforms. These findings expose an uncomfortable reality: dishonest gain is becoming increasingly normalised.
In the sports sector, concerns have been raised about alleged match-fixing, with warnings that such practices threaten the credibility of football in Ghana.
This concern was reinforced when the Ghana Football Association confirmed that the league match between AshGold and Inter Allies on July 7, 2021, had been compromised, according to reports by GBC Ghana.
Beyond sports, dishonest gain is deeply embedded in everyday life.
In our schools, diligent students are sometimes ridiculed for failing, while others who engage in examination malpractice pass and are celebrated.
In workplaces, bribery, manipulation, and backbiting are used to gain promotions, while honest and hardworking individuals are overlooked. Some employees misuse official working hours for personal activities, and others fail to show up entirely without permission, all in pursuit of personal gain
In the job market, some applicants secure employment through payments and connections, while others, despite genuine effort, remain unemployed and are unfairly labelled as failures.
A revealing example comes from the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), where about ten staff members were dismissed after it was discovered that they had presented fake certificates. The Director-General, John Ofori-Tenkorang, explained that the individuals were uncovered during a certificate verification exercise, according to a 2018 Citi Newsroom report. This case highlights how some individuals attempt to gain unfair advantages in the workplace through deception.
There are many ills in our society, driven largely by an intense pressure to succeed by any means necessary. Increasingly, people acquire mansions they cannot explain and drive cars far beyond what their known income can support. This troubling reality sends a dangerous message, especially to the younger generation, that achievement regardless of how it is attained is what earns recognition and respect in society.
Such thinking is gradually filtering into our schools, reinforcing the belief that results matter more than integrity. As Stephen Adei cautioned, this trend contributes to a deeper systemic problem which the World Bank in 2016 described as “schooling without learning”, a situation where credentials are obtained, but true knowledge and values are lacking (MyJoyOnline, 2025).
These realities reinforce a dangerous and growing belief that integrity does not pay.
Even in the housing sector, dishonesty is glaring. Despite existing rent control laws, some landlords openly flout regulations by demanding exorbitant advance payments and illegal charges. Vulnerable tenants, often desperate for accommodation, are left with no choice but to comply. This exploitation deepens inequality and exposes weaknesses in law enforcement.
More alarmingly, dishonest gain is now fueling serious criminal activity.
In a widely reported case, a Ghanaian actress and her husband were arrested over their alleged involvement in a car theft syndicate. The actress reportedly disguised herself as a nurse to evade detection while facilitating the movement of stolen vehicles. This was not mere misconduct; it was a calculated and dangerous enterprise that could have resulted in significant harm if left unchecked.
Moral decline
Among traders, the situation is equally troubling. Some food vendors allegedly use harmful substances to enhance their products, putting consumers’ health at risk. Others reportedly resort to questionable spiritual practices to attract customers.
Even religious spaces are not immune. Some individuals exploit faith for financial gain, selling “anointing” items at exorbitant prices while promising miracles and prosperity. Such practices prey on vulnerable individuals seeking hope and solutions.
Dishonest gain has become a social and economic canker that, if left unchecked, can erode the moral fabric of society. Its subtle and often undetected nature allows it to spread quietly, normalising wrongdoing and encouraging others to follow suit.
Today, many appear determined to succeed “by hook or by crook.” The consequences are evident. They include broken trust, loss of lives, injuries, and a steady decline in moral standards.
Increasingly, refusing to cut corners is treated as a disadvantage. Those who choose integrity are often dismissed as naïve or foolish and left to struggle, while those who bend the rules move ahead. One may even be made to feel like a failure simply for choosing to do what is right.
In some relationships, partners cut corners in the name of love, believing it will help them avoid being abandoned. In the process, they resort to lies and half-truths to conceal wrongdoing. To date, some partners conceal or misrepresent their finances, land, and other assets for personal gain instead of sharing with their loved ones.
This behaviour is fueling the dangerous belief that honesty is a liability rather than a virtue.
A popular Ghanaian proverb reminds us: “Okuku seku, onipa hu ye hu. Suro nipa nagyae saman.”
This highlights the reality that human beings can be deceptive, and one must remain cautious and discerning in dealing with others.
Call for integrity
Former Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood once urged Ghanaians to reflect on the state of the nation, warning that dishonesty and division threaten national progress. She emphasised the urgent need for honesty, integrity, and moral uprightness in both public and private life( Citinewsroom.com, 2015).
The fight against dishonest gain is not the responsibility of a few. It is a collective national duty. It requires strong institutions, consistent enforcement of laws, and, most importantly, a personal commitment to integrity.
Let us rise above the culture of shortcuts and choose the harder but honourable path.
Will we reject dishonesty in all its forms, whether in the classroom, workplace, marketplace, or public office?
The future of our nation depends not on how fast we rise, but on how honestly we rise. Ghana must not only succeed. It must succeed with honour.
Remember: Beware of covetousness, for a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions (Luke 12:15).
Go ahead and cheat others dishonestly, but by mid-life, everything you’ve gained will fly away, like birds hatched from stolen eggs. You will be proven a fool in the end.( Jeremiah 17:11).
By Henry Atta Nyame
Institutional Assessment Practitioner
(hattanyame@gmail.com)
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