TITLE:
Throes of Corruption in Ghana
AUTHORS:
Mavis Ekua Enyamah Kwainoe, Paa Joy Akuamoah Boateng
KEYWORDS:
Corruption, Kinds of Corruption, Political Corruption, Actors, Accountability
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.12 No.11,
November
22,
2024
ABSTRACT: Corruption has eaten deep into the very fibre of many societies. It is a generalized and an integrated culture in many institutions. As a result, well-meaning Ghanaians express outrage and disgust at these never unending scandals of corruption in the country. Often, research reports, media publications, reported cases on the subject confirm the notoriety of the practice with growing impunity. Many citizens in various positions: public officers, ruling elites, business men and women, are all entangled in it. Those who engage in these acts of corruption know that it is unlawful; however, they continue with this abominable practice for various reasons including: a sense of entitlement, belief of not being held accountable, sheer greed, wickedness and wilful intent to loot every available resource for themselves at the expense of all others. On the other hand, the citizens who do not practice corruption, also accommodate it by their inaction for fear of victimization among others. By these acts of corruption, public funds meant to benefit the entire citizenry are diverted into the wrong hands which undoubtedly reduces the trust of the public in the government in power. Further, it weakens the effectiveness of public institutions and the practicality of the rule of law in general. This paper will reveal the reality of the age-old perception of corruption in Ghana with a view to provide guidance to policy makers to curb it. The paper will also add to the growing literature on corruption and provide meaningful information to those seeking to understand how corruption plays out negatively in the development of the economy of the state among others.