Ghanaians paid GH¢5b cash in bribes to public officials in 2021 – CHRAJ

While bribery is known to be a major source of corruption in Ghana, efforts to curb the debilitating menace out of public life in Ghana appears to be achieving very little, and that’s in spite of the fact that bribery is a crime according to the laws of the country.

The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) says in 2021, Ghanaians paid to public officials a total of GH¢5 billion in cash bribes.

CHRAJ officials said that during a media sensitisation on the implementation and evaluation of Ghana’s National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACAP)

NACAP, a 10-year plan (2015-2024), is a strategic action plan consultatively developed by stakeholders to help fight corruption and promote national development in the country.

It also provides a framework for mobilising public support and resources for anti-corruption activities and promoting integrity, transparency, and accountability in all areas.

The occasion was used to commemorate this year’s International Anti- Corruption Day (IACD), which is marked annually on December 9 to promote collective action against corruption.

Speaking at the event, Charles Abani, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Ghana, said United Nations estimated that corruption cost the global economy around $3.6 trillion annually adding: “It is estimated that Africa lost $50 billion to illicit financial flows.”

Mr Abani said United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) recently produced a report on Sahel countries and estimated illicit financial flows from illegal mining at $12 billion per annum.

“We talk about corruption as if it is a moral issue that needs to be dealt with by the Church, but it is not only an immoral issue, it is a crime…”

He noted that corruption was organised, and it crossed borders and called for collaboration among institutions.

Touching on the theme: “Uniting the world against corruption,” Mr Abani said it was extremely important the Ghana Statistical Service, CHRAJ other stakeholders worked assiduously in achieving the objectives and goals of NACAP.

He said a Public Service Survey Report indicated that Ghana loses GHC5 billion through corruption and illicit financial flows.

“If we don’t stem corruption, it would be stemming the plan that we want to achieve. The nature of corruption is diverse, that is, it exists in public procurement.”

Mr Abani urged stakeholders to connect with international institutions such as the Global Operations Network of Anti-Corruption Enforcement Authority to fight the canker.

Prof Samuel Kobina Anim, Government Statistician, said the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) together with CHRAJ and its stakeholders would be evaluating NACAP within a six-month period and the evaluation launched in June 2024.

Prof Anim said the evaluation would complete the cycle between laws, policies, and statistics in the anti-corruption campaign in Ghana.

“We hope to deepen the collective interest and mobilise national efforts in fighting corruption.”

Prof. Anim said in a nationally representative survey of people’s experience of corruption in Ghana, “26.7 per cent of adult population paid a bribe to a public official in 2021″.

According to him “a total of GH¢5 billion was paid in cash bribes to public officials in 2021.”

Mr Richard Quayson, a Deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ, said one of the main objectives of NACAP was to build capacity to condemn and fight corruption and make its practice a high risk and low gain activity.

Mr Emmanuel Adumua-Bossman, Deputy Chief of Staff, said the government was committed to the fight against corruption.

NACAP has led to the automation and digitalisation of the Law courts, revision of code of conduct for Judges and Magistrates, unification of allowances of boards, councils and Committees of Public Service, among others.