[ 2013-11-03 ]

Bribery and Corruption, Ghana's weakness
Whenever this ugly twin, "bribery and corruption"
is mentioned, government becomes the subject of
query. Meanwhile, this same bribery and corruption
have taken stands in our daily individual
dealings. It is an undeniable fact that government
emanated corruption is malicious to the economy.
Yet, we as individuals must curb the petty trends
of corruptness in our daily lives before
criticising government, remember "Charity begins
at home". One then may ask, what is bribery and
corruption?

Bribery is a specific offence which concerns the
practice of offering something, usually money, to
gain an illicit advantage. If this then certifies
the definition of bribery, let us then judge
ourselves. Do you remember the Ghana cedi 5.00
note you fold into the policeman's palm, anytime
he stops your vehicle? The Ghana cedi 700.00 you
gave to the administrator to pick your unqualified
ward for the tertiary institution? The tip you
offered the DVLA staff to disregard the normal
procedure and fast make your driver's license? Its
quite laughable, when we turn all these down and
still criticise government with bribery and theft.
If possible, let us audit our own "pinksheets",
before we do for that of others.

Corruption can also be defined as an abuse of a
position of trust to gain an undue advantage. It
is obvious that government officials do embezzle
state funds, misuse resources and even privatize
state-owned enterprises. Now, let's come to think
of it. The Shs headmaster who admits students
whose parents have rewarded him. The building
inspector who takes money and allows you build at
an unapproved place. The crook plan you hatch with
your relative, by forcefully making him a
contractor and lobbying for government project for
him, so you can have your share. Knowing now these
cited ones and more to come, you would all bear
with me that bribery and corruption is becoming a
normality.

Even, when someone does a job he's being paid for,
he still wants some sort of inducement from the
client. In an instance, where you submit a form,
application letter.etc but you failed to endorse
your document with a fat envelop, then forget it
because, your document won't be worked on.
Whereas, some corruptible persons would ask for
rewards in plain language, others too would depict
it in their own styles. When you are greeted, for
more than two times, then you should be looking to
give out something. Showering you with unnecessary
praises like "boosu", "chief", "honourable",
"many3 one" and the likes, is another way of doing
it.

If Bribery and Corruption is not even sparing
Religion and Culture then we have a long way to
go. People pay church leaders inorder to be given
positions and titles such as Rev, Apostle, Head
pastor, Most Rev.etc. Kingmakers are even bribed
to discard the normal proceedings of inheritance
and make wrongful heirs to the throne.

It is indeed a great whoredom, bribery and
corruption is driving us wayward and if measures
are not put in place to counteract this canker,
our generation to come would be like hell on
earth.

Merci Beaucoup
Felix Acquaye
(C.M.N)

Source - Felix Acquaye

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