The 2012 Auditor General’s Report on the Public Accounts of the Republic of Ghana is out and the picture is the same as in previous years.
Once again, there is corruption in all the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), other public institutions and the district assemblies.
Article 36 (2) of the 1992 Constitution states among other provisions that: “The state shall, in particular, take all necessary steps to establish a sound and healthy economy whose underlying principles shall include the recognition that the most secure democracy is the one that assures the basic necessities of life for its people as a fundamental duty.”
Article 35 (8) also says: “The state shall take steps to eradicate corrupt practices and the abuse of power.”
These clauses enjoin our leaders to take the necessary steps to manage our resources, such that the ordinary person can eke a living without much difficulty.
We know the government is working on a National Anti-Corruption Action Plan to deal with the spate of corrupt practices in all facets of human endeavour.
Our worry, however, is that the country can boast many pieces of fine legislation to catch up with corrupt officials but the records show that the laws hardly catch up with anybody.
Perhaps our laws lack the teeth to bite or the law enforcement agencies are in cahoots with the corrupt officials to siphon state resources for personal gain.
If that is not the case, then it is difficult to understand why the state is unable to fight corrupt practices in the system.
It beats our imagination that in spite of the huge sums of money that are misappropriated every year from the Consolidated Fund, no public official is held accountable for these acts against the interest of ordinary people.
Not too long ago, President John Mahama directed the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice to look into the Auditor General’s Report and prosecute those found to have embezzled public funds.
Those who had the opportunity to watch the proceedings of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament wondered whether the reports were about the use of their taxes.
Sometimes, the accounts of the misappropriation of state funds by public institutions were very nauseating, leaving the people wondering whether their elected leaders could do something to protect the resources of the state.
Ghana is certainly not in want, as resources, both human and material, abound which, if properly harnessed, could go a long way to change the status of majority of the people.
The Daily Graphic thinks the 2012 Auditor General’s Report stinks, for which reason the report should be a wake-up call to all public-spirited people to speak out against corruption and act to stop those who are bent on making life uncomfortable for the ordinary people.
