The article discusses Ghana’s ongoing struggle with corruption, highlighting the new government’s commitments and the historical context of anti-corruption efforts. Ordinary citizens, particularly the impoverished, are noted as both the most affected by corruption and the key to effective anti-corruption initiatives. Historical examples from pre-colonial and postcolonial Ghana illustrate the importance of grassroots activism in addressing corruption.
The new government of John Mahama in Ghana sought to illustrate its commitment to fighting corruption by declaring the former finance minister a “wanted fugitive” for suspected financial irregularities. This act highlighted an effort to shift the blame for widespread corruption onto the previous ruling party, the New Patriotic Party, while also emphasizing the detrimental impact of dishonesty among high public officials. However, the reality of corruption in Ghana is more complex and involves scandals across both major political parties over the past three decades.
Research indicates that corruption affects ordinary Ghanaians significantly, particularly the impoverished, who suffer the most from exploitation and corruption. Historically, Ghanaians have challenged these injustices, even in the pre-colonial era. This historical context is crucial as it underscores that for any initiative to combat corruption effectively, it must involve grassroots mobilization and organization, enabling citizens to demand accountability from those in power.
In pre-colonial Ghana, societies like Asante faced challenges from both elites and ordinary citizens regarding monarchs’ excesses. Notable figures, such as Kofi Kakari, faced public backlash leading to their dethronement for violating trust. Furthermore, coastal societies such as the Fante established communal defense groups, known as asafo, to ensure chiefs remained accountable through community-driven actions. Despite colonial influences that curbed these powers, grassroots institutions like asafo laid the groundwork for future collective actions against administrations seen as corrupt.
In the postcolonial era, significant protests erupted against corruption during the regimes of Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings, invoking past traditions of resistance. Activists viewed corruption as a systemic issue, benefiting a minority while harming the majority. However, subsequent governments often failed to sustain dedicated anti-corruption efforts, and many young activists lost their influence due to political reconciliations that favored elite interests.
The advent of multiparty democracy brought radical perspectives but limited them within the prevailing political parties. Corruption allegations remained prominent, with critiques noting that politicians often merely swapped power to exploit the state for personal gain. Research from Afrobarometer indicated that a higher percentage of impoverished citizens recognized worsening corruption compared to wealthier populations, signaling the tangible impact of graft on their day-to-day experiences, such as bribery for essential services.
While Ghana has established numerous laws and institutions to combat corruption, including asset declaration requirements for public officials, bureaucratic inertia continues to impede progress. The anticorruption measures under Mahama have seen improvements but still require substantial societal engagement alongside governmental action. Activists emphasize that addressing corruption necessitates both leadership commitment from above and action from the grassroots level, as ordinary citizens are often the first to encounter and endure the ramifications of corrupt practices directly.
Ghana’s struggle against corruption requires a dual approach that combines government initiatives with grassroots mobilization. While political accountability is essential, it is the collective action of ordinary citizens that can effectively combat corruption and demand real change. Historical context reflects a persistent pursuit of justice, and recognizing the complexity of the issue will be critical for future efforts by both the government and its citizens.
Original Source: theconversation.com
