Former Vice President and flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has taken a stand against corruption, warning that it diverts resources meant for the well-being of the less-endowed in society.
“Corruption is an act that steals resources that could have otherwise been used to improve the well-being of the poor, the vulnerable, and the excluded in our society,” Dr Bawumia said.
Dr Bawumia made these remarks when he took a stand against corruption as part of the Pledge Against Corruption campaign.
For him, people should look beyond the wealth and possessions they accumulate in their lifetime.
“Let’s be reminded that you cannot leave the world with riches, assets, or wealth. When you leave this world, you only leave with your deeds and your integrity,” he added.
Dr Bawumia is among prominent Ghanaian leaders and institutional heads who have taken the pledge against corruption. For the other pledge-takers, corruption is not only the loss of public funds but also harms society and the people who depend on public resources.
Watch the video of Dr. Bawumia’s stand against corruption here:
The Pledge Against Corruption is a civil society-led campaign to encourage Ghanaians to make a personal commitment to integrity and help fight graft. It is led by the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), and Transparency International Ghana (TI-Ghana), and is funded by the UK International Development.
Also taking the stand against corruption, the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Ghana, the Most Rev. Prof. J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu, said the menace of corruption should be seen beyond the financial resources lost to corrupt practices. He described corruption as a moral issue that has caused serious damage to society.
“Corruption is a morally decadent behaviour that has ruined communities, families, and in some cases, nations,” Most Rev. Prof. Asamoah-Gyadu said.
He said for a highly religious country in a Christian population of more than 70%, “ordinarily, this should be a country that upholds high moral standards in every aspect of our lives. And yet, everywhere we turn, our social institutions are bedevilled with corrupt behaviour. I invite you to let us turn the corner and take a stand against corruption.”
On his part, the President of the Ghana Medical Association, Prof. Ernest Yorke, drew attention to the effects of corruption on healthcare, stressing that money lost to corruption could have been used to improve facilities and expand access to care.
“Money lost to corruption could have been used to provide more emergency beds, more affordable beds, and more health facilities,” Prof. Yorke said. He urged Ghanaians not to limit the fight against corruption to public institutions and officials, but to take a stand whenever they encountered the practice.
“That’s why you and I should fight corruption wherever we find it,” he added.
Also taking the pledge, Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Joseph Whittal, stressed the need for Ghana to confront corruption because of its prevalence.
“Ghana must address corruption because of its pervasive nature,” Mr Whittal said. He pointed to the effect of corruption on ordinary citizens, saying “funds meant for vulnerable people and essential public services, including money for hospitals, hospital beds, schools and roads connecting goods to urban areas, are being siphoned off by elites given the opportunity to run the country.”
Taking the pledge on behalf of the National Chief Imam, his Spokesperson, Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu, described corruption as a persistent challenge that impedes Ghana’s development and the relationship between citizens and institutions.
“Corruption remains a persistent challenge to our country, undermining trust, slowing down progress and weakening the social fabric,” the spokesperson said.
“On my own behalf and on behalf of the National Chief Imam, I take a stand against corruption.”
The Pledge Against Corruption campaign encourages Ghanaians to speak out against graft and affirm their commitment to integrity and accountability, while taking steps to desist from it and fight it in their spheres of life.
Individuals can take the pledge by creating customised posters with their photographs here and sharing them on social media.
