Former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Reverend Professor Emmanuel Martey, has identified the country’s constitution, culture and the Church as the root causes of corruption in the country.
He has, therefore, underscored the need for the country to fight corruption from what he called the 3Cs (constitution, culture, church), or else “we’ll be scratching where it is not itching”.
Speaking at a corruption roundtable organised by the Institute for Economic Affairs (IEA) on Wednesday, on the theme, "Can Ghana win the fight against corruption?” Prof. Martey indicated that corruption was being tackled at the wrong places and “we are scratching where it is not itching.”
Root causes of corruption
He emphasised that the nation, predominantly a Christian one, has “not really touched the root causes of corruption” which he identified as the country’s constitution, the Ghanaian culture and the church.
He was of the view that anti-corruption measures had not been channelled to these areas that served as major contributors to the canker.
He also pointed out that: “Our constitution promotes corruption”.
Additionally, he noted that “Ghanaian culture promotes corruption”.
Culture appreciates gift-giving
Explaining further, Prof. Martey said the Ghanaian culture appreciated gift-giving and gift-receiving which made it difficult to draw the lines where an act of corruption was being committed.
“So even if a politician on an election year goes round and takes gifts [along] and gives to traditional leaders it is appreciated.
This is killing our nation,” he lamented.
He also bemoaned the “winner takes all” posture by political parties and raised concerns over the “overwhelming power given to the Executive” arm of government.
Prof. Martey said the whole country was complaining about the huge size of government but “do you know why? He [President Akufo-Addo] is a lawyer and he believes in the rule of law, he must go according to the Constitution and the powers that the Constitution has given him, he has realised that he is not a superman.
So he is getting people to help him to discharge the duties which the Constitution has given him…He is not ubiquitous, he cannot be everywhere that is why for me, my analysis of the situation [tells me] that is why he has brought in hundreds of ministers and this will not augur well for our nation”.
Source: Daily Graphic
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Corruption is "I have met the enemy, and the enemy is me." fighting it starts with yourself, namely your attitude towards "right and wrong", your attitude towards what is not yours (do you respect that and restrain yourself from taking it knowing fully it is not yours to take), it's about complying/obeying the law (in all things), and if a Christian (as 80% of us claim to be) living your life in a Christlike manner. It's not about our leaders (who is a leader, Ghanaians as a whole hate to take responsibility for anything) or politicians, it's about us, average Joe, the unruly lawbreaking ***barred word*** that only talks about his rights and barking "do you know who I am?". That's right fighting corruption like keeping a sanitary environment is about you and me, "THE MAN IN THE MIRROR!" my fellow citizens and friends.
majority of the people engage in corruption go to church. these people don't know the meaning of Christianity, if they do, corruption will never have been existed
I THOUGHT CORRUPTION WAS THE CAUSE OF LEADERSHIP> ALL OF A SUDDEN< IT IS SOMETHING ELSE. THESE ARE THE LEADERS DESTROYING OUR SOCIETIES> IF THEY WERE NOT PARTISAN, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A GOOD START. OTABIL HAS ALSO STARTED DIFFERENT THINGS>
You are the root cause of corruption, i imagine this forum taking place during mahama time, like this big belly will be shouting like never before. Now you know the root cause. Nyame ahunu wo paaa
THIS MAN IS MASSAGING THE TRUTH. REV. PROF MARTEY IS KNOWN TO BE A PLAIN MAN. WHY NOW HAVING EXCUSES FOR SOMETHING HE ADMITS ITS NOT THE BEST. NO! THIS IS NOT THE REV PROF. MARTEY I KNOW. HE SHOULD COME AGAIN, OTHERWISE SPECIAL kWASI PETER.
SO WHY DIDN'T YOU THINK REASONABLY LIKE THIS WHEN EX PRESIDENT JOHN MAHAMA WAS THE PRESIDENT? YOU THOUGHT MR. MAHAMA WAS A SUPERMAN OR WHAT? PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO KNEW ALL THE BOOKS BUT KNEW NOT LOVE AND TRUTH ARE KILLING THE COUNTRY. YOU WERE CALLING MR. JOHN MAHAMA AND HIS GOVERNMENT AS ***barred word*** PEOPLE AND ASKING TURNING AROUND TO SEE THE REASONABLE "PEOPLE" AT THAT TIME (NPP AND NANA ADDO) SO TODAY YOU ARE TELLING US THAT HE IS NOT A SUPERMAN AND THAT IS WHY HE HAS 100 MINISTERS TO HELP HIM CORRY OUT HIS PROMISSES AND THAT WILL NOT HELP THE COUNTRY INSTEADOF YOU CONDEMING HIM THAT HE HAS DISSAPOINTED US.