Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has said the systems and policies being implemented by the Akufo-Addo government are aimed at fighting corruption to accelerate national development.
Speaking at the 59th annual session of the Ghana Baptist Convention in Ejura in the Ashanti Region on Tuesday (23 August 2022), the vice-president bemoaned the debilitating effects of corruption on national development, and affirmed the government’s vigorous commitment to fighting the problem.
“One of the key hindrances in fulfilling God’s purpose is corruption. Corruption inhibits economic growth and affects business operations, employment and investments,” Dr Bawumia said. “It also reduces tax revenue and the effectiveness of various financial assistance programmes.
The wider society is influenced by a high degree of corruption in terms of lowering of trust in the rule “of law, governance and consequently the quality of life”.
“Corruption thrives in the very nature of the society that we have. It thrives in any society that is full of darkness. So much so, that when there is darkness, so much is hidden; you cannot tell who is who.
“In a society where you have this type of darkness prevailing, when you cannot tell the identity of a person, then corruption can thrive. One can even go and borrow money from a bank and later change [your] name and then go to another bank to borrow. You have no sense of where people are or finding where they are because address systems do not exist. So banks charge high interest rates.
“People who are supposed to collect revenues for the government steal from the government when cash is paid,” Bawumia continued. “People do not file their taxes. People try to register minors to vote and there’s general indiscipline in this type of system. Because it is full of darkness, there is no transparency and therefore corruption thrives,” he said.
Digitalisation
Thus, with its great desire to make access to public services easier, more accessible and free from corruption, the Akufo-Addo government took the decision to embrace digitalisation and infuse technology into the national fibre. The results have been remarkable so far, Dr Bawumia said.
“This government is building a system that will enhance transparency, promote accountability, discipline, trustworthiness and enable inclusiveness.
“It’s not based on who you know and interpersonal relationships, thus promoting efficient public sector management, public service delivery and eliminating the incentives for bribery and corruption.
“You fight corruption with systems, you do not fight corruption with rhetoric; and so, in this regard, we have been trying to put systems in place; we’re trying to identify everybody uniquely. And that is why we’re issuing the Ghana Card.
“Every property has a digital address. Today there is no need to pay a bribe for your passport. No ‘goro’ boys are involved in passport acquisition; you go online you pay for it; and it can even be delivered to your house.
“[Acquiring a] driver’s licence is also very simple. It’s one of the most advanced systems that we have implemented in the world and therefore you don’t need any ‘goro’ boy to get a driver’s licence.
“Through your mobile phone you can renew your NHIS membership card; you don’t need to pay anybody a bribe. You can top up your electricity on your mobile phone. The same goes with the digitised Registrar General’s Office for the fast acquisition of one’s documents.
“Today, you cannot obtain fake motor insurance certificates any more. If I look at a driver’s licence plate I can dial *920*57# and I will know whether that car is insured or not.”
While touting the successes achieved so far, Vice-President Bawumia argued that the fight against corruption can be won only if all Ghanaians contribute their quota. He called on all, including the Church, to partner the government in the fight.
“These are some specifics we can point to in our fight against corruption. But clearly, we have not finished the fight, and even though we have made progress, we still have more to do. To achieve this, we need to accelerate national development, and concerted efforts on the part of everyone will be required to build this nation.
“Through digitalisation we are putting in place the systems for a disciplined, less corrupt, transparent, efficient, trustworthy and tax-compliant society. Let us all join this very important national fight.”
Only engage
Reverend Dr Ernest Adu-Gyamfi, the outgoing executive president of the Ghana Baptist Convention, who also doubles as the chairman of the National Peace Council, commended the government for introducing measures, including the ongoing widespread adoption of digitisation in daily life, to make processes of engaging with the state easier for the ordinary Ghanaian.
In a related development, the chief of Ejura, Barima Ozsei Hwedie II, on behalf of his chiefs and elders, has donated 100 acres of land to the Ghana Baptist Convention towards the establishment of the Ejura campus of Ghana Baptist University.
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