A VERY GOOD BEGINNING (DEC 11, 2009)

THE fight against corruption was given a boost on Wednesday with the launch of a code of conduct for public officers as part of the intensified effort by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to stem the tide of corruption in the country.
The 1992 Constitution has elaborate provisions on this issue, but enforcement has been very slow, necessitating more action to reinforce the need to halt corruption to ensure development effectiveness, for, after all, it is said that more hands make light work.
The World Bank says that development goals can be seriously jeopardised when countries are poorly governed and especially when they face competition, fraud and mismanagement.
Indeed, speakers at the launch, which formed part of this year’s International Anti-Corruption Day, minced no words in emphasising the need to fight corruption in order to free resources for national development.
The Vice-President, Mr John Mahama, who launched the code, announced some anti-corruption initiatives of the government and further actions to help redress the social canker.
The fight against corruption can be successful only with the collective resolve of society to break its back.
So long as there is the giver and the receiver in the system, public resources will be diverted for personal gain.
It is hoped that the increased budgetary allocation to CHRAJ will help it to formulate new strategies to promote transparency and accountability in public life.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks that although some actions have been taken to promote transparency in the use of public funds, such as the enactment of the Public Procurement and the Whistle Blowers acts, we do not need to rest on our laurels but encourage the government to enact the Freedom of Information Bill to open up the system for further scrutiny to ensure that officials use public funds for their intended purposes.
We also think that the work of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament should not end with its public hearings but that those cited for the misapplication of public funds must be punished to serve as a deterrent to others.
It is obvious that governance and anti-corruption issues are critical to improving development outcomes, such as better delivery of services in the health, educational and road sectors.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that the notion among a section of the population that corruption is in the character of only politicians is not helping the national response to the canker.
If everybody resolves not to take bribe or give bribe, as well as refrain from rent seeking, corruption and corrupt people will phase out from our national endeavour.
We should, however, not deceive ourselves that once the code has been launched, corruption will become a thing of the past in the conduct of public affairs.
The DAILY GRAPHIC calls on CHRAJ to bite hard so that the code will enhance public confidence in the integrity of public office holders and government decision-making processes by establishing clear rules of conduct for all.
Let us perform our official duties honestly, faithfully and efficiently. Everybody’s work should begin and end with the common good in mind so that we can use our positions to create equal opportunities for the people to improve their well-being.