Politics: Ghana: Corruption in Ghana Is Too Much - GBA
Ho — The President of the Ghana Bar
Association, Nene Abayaateye Amegatcher has expressed concern over the
high level of corruption in the country, which according to him, has its
roots in political and bureaucratic behaviours.
He noted that it was a major national canker that must be tackled by designing a system that promoted transparency and accountability as well as willingness to deal with corruption.
Nene Abayaateye Amegatcher said there was the need for members of the BAR to wage relentless crusade against what he described as unacceptable practices that had exposed the nation to the international community as one of the corrupt nations.
He observed that since the beginning of the 4th Republic, weak regulatory and legal frameworks and high levels of corruption have combined to produce many judgment debts against the state hence the need to strengthen the regulatory framework for national development.
Addressing the Annual national conference of the GBA in Ho, he pointed out that the current political practice where the winner-takes all syndrome was not envisaged by the framers of the constitution was unfortunate.
He bemoaned the practice where the President, after coming to power remove all top echelon of civil service and public service, including all the public sector boards, heads of the armed forces, police among others.
Nene Abayaateye Amegatcher, therefore, advocated for national policies to bind governments, irrespective of which political party is in government, and to follow a particular development paths that would be in the general interest of the people. According to him, it was unfortunate that Parliament continued to pass laws that vest wide powers in the President to remove board members for companies the state had an interest in. He noted that Section 12 of the recent Presidential Transition Act that provides for the automatic dissolution of all boards on the assumption of office of a new President was regrettable.
The GBA President said it was time for Parliament to put a stop to passing laws vesting unfetted discretion in one person to interfere with the smooth operation of public institutions for any reason appearing to him sufficient.
"This challenge is the trend by some persons appointed to be board chairs turning themselves into tin gods with executive powers usurping the powers of the Managing Director or Chief Executive, signing administrative letters, awarding contracts, making appointments reserved for the Chief Executive and in recent times demanding a fully furnished office and residential accommodation. They are all part of the corrupt practices in the country," he stressed.
He noted that it was a major national canker that must be tackled by designing a system that promoted transparency and accountability as well as willingness to deal with corruption.
Nene Abayaateye Amegatcher said there was the need for members of the BAR to wage relentless crusade against what he described as unacceptable practices that had exposed the nation to the international community as one of the corrupt nations.
He observed that since the beginning of the 4th Republic, weak regulatory and legal frameworks and high levels of corruption have combined to produce many judgment debts against the state hence the need to strengthen the regulatory framework for national development.
Addressing the Annual national conference of the GBA in Ho, he pointed out that the current political practice where the winner-takes all syndrome was not envisaged by the framers of the constitution was unfortunate.
He bemoaned the practice where the President, after coming to power remove all top echelon of civil service and public service, including all the public sector boards, heads of the armed forces, police among others.
Nene Abayaateye Amegatcher, therefore, advocated for national policies to bind governments, irrespective of which political party is in government, and to follow a particular development paths that would be in the general interest of the people. According to him, it was unfortunate that Parliament continued to pass laws that vest wide powers in the President to remove board members for companies the state had an interest in. He noted that Section 12 of the recent Presidential Transition Act that provides for the automatic dissolution of all boards on the assumption of office of a new President was regrettable.
The GBA President said it was time for Parliament to put a stop to passing laws vesting unfetted discretion in one person to interfere with the smooth operation of public institutions for any reason appearing to him sufficient.
"This challenge is the trend by some persons appointed to be board chairs turning themselves into tin gods with executive powers usurping the powers of the Managing Director or Chief Executive, signing administrative letters, awarding contracts, making appointments reserved for the Chief Executive and in recent times demanding a fully furnished office and residential accommodation. They are all part of the corrupt practices in the country," he stressed.
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