Corruption forms 300% of Ghana’s foreign aid – CHRAJ

Mr Richard Quayson, the National Deputy Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has charged Ghanaians to protect national resources by waging relentless war against corrupt practices.

He said money lost to corruption formed 300% of Ghana’s foreign aid, and quizzed, why Ghana should be relying on foreign countries for support when “we can achieve the government’s policy of Ghana Beyond Aid by fighting corruption”.

Statistics available indicate that Africa loses 100 billion Dollars annually to corruption and Ghana alone loses 3 billion dollars per annum to the social canker.

The amount could construct good roads, hospitals, schools and other social amenities when used judiciously, Mr Quayson said in Wa during Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP) Regional Awareness Campaign.

The 2018 campaign was organised by Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) in collaboration with CHRAJ and the Ghana News agency (GNA) under the theme was: “Ghana United Against Corruption”.

Major government projects in Ghana are funded by international loans, which are paid back with substantial interest.

Monies lost through corruption alone, Mr Quayson said, could construct three times those projects but, “we are suffering because of our indiscipline and recklessness”.

He quoted African Reggae Legend Bob Marley as saying: “In the abundance of water, fools are thirsty,” and interpreted it to mean Ghana and Africa have abundant resources but “if we allow them to go waste through corruption, then we are foolish” as stated by the late music legend.

CHRAJ is seeking to engage individuals, media and civil society organisations in the report and combat of corruption through effective investigations and prosecution.

It also looks to institutionalize strategies that would bring about efficiency, accountability and transparency in the public and private sectors wrestle corrupt acts.