Ghana loses GH¢13.8 billion annually through corruption, Mr. Peter K. Asuah, Nwabiagya South District Director of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has disclosed.
He explained that the amount represented over 300% of all aid Ghana receives in a year.
The CHRAJ official, therefore, called on every responsible citizen to fight against corruption and related activities in the country, adding that protecting the public purse was a collective effort for all.
According to him, “we would not be able to defeat corruption and corruption related activities as a country, if we continue to leave the fight in the hands of governments and its agencies.”
He was speaking at a durbar, organised by the Anti-Corruption Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), which is aimed at sensitising the Muslims community at the Abuakwa Zongo Chief’s Palace recently.
Mr. Asuah explained that one could make a complaint of corruption if that person has evidence that a government official or institution was engaged in a corrupt practice, or acted in a manner that amounted to corrupt use of public office or misappropriation of public money.
He said one could also complain with the fact that. a public official put himself or herself in a conflict of interest situation, breaches the Code of Conduct for Public Officials, and acts in a manner that offends public service ethics.
According to him, a complaint should show that an action or activity lead to or was likely to lead to abuse of public office for private gain, misuse of public monies, misuse of public property, theft of public property, and theft of public money.
The CHRAJ Director disclosed that illicit enrichment or illegal acquisition of wealth, bribery, extortion, kickbacks, patronage, abuse of incumbency/impropriety under the Whistleblowers Act, victimisation of whistleblower, misuse or abuse of official time, insider dealing and influence peddling could all lead to corruption, which was a threat to the total development of our country.
