Some two weeks ago the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Hon. Joe Ghartey noted that the fight against corruption was a national issue that should not be left for government alone to deal with.
In the opinion of Hon. Ghartey, corruption has been so widespread and endemic that the menace has gone beyond government and therefore every member of the society has a responsibility to help curb it.
The stance of the Minister, clearly demonstrates that government is aware that corruption exists in Ghana. And indeed we are happy about such genuine admittance on the part of Government.
We appreciate the fact that Government has institute many institutional measures that we believe if they are adhered to, would help deal with corruption in the country.
The fact that the issue is still a worry to Government means those institutional checks perhaps have not worked they way, Government expected.
However this paper is of the conviction that Ghanaians can help deal with the issue, if the Ghanaian leadership leads the way.
That is why some of us are worried about the operations of an anti-corruption body like the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).
According to Ghana’s Supreme Court, CHRAJ has no right to investigate corruption charges on its own, unless a complainant makes a formal complain to the CHRAJ.
This is an issue we believe any government that has an agenda to fight corruption will find a way out. And that can be done through the sponsoring of legislation to amend that provision in the Ghanaian constitution.
We again believe any government that is willing to combat corruption should separate the office of the Attorney General from the Minister of Justice. The office of Attorney General, we believe should be taken over by an independent prosecutor.
That would be a way of restoring confidence in Ghanaians because such an independent counsel could work independently without recourse to the popular belief that the Attorney General operate at the whims of the President.
There are other measures like the election of District Chief Executives, Mayors and Metropolitan Chief Executives, which we believe are done, would help fight corruption. Indeed, corruption exists in Ghana, but if we could all put in our efforts, then the Ghanaian presidency would have to convince Ghanaians that it is prepared to carry on the mantle.
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