Expectations of Governing Board are high
Corruption has been the bane of society since time immemorial, to the extent that it is common to hear the refrain that the act is as old as the time the first man emerged on earth.
The practice has had devastating effects on mankind in all societies and it has become difficult to deal with it because corruption lacks transparency and it is almost impossible to officially track its perpetration and produce quantitative evidence about its existence.
But we all know that corruption exists and Ghanaians have demonstrated with all actions that they abhor it in all its forms. Indeed, our abhorrence of corruption is seen in the general and outright condemnation that greets acts of corruption in society.
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Ghanaians believe in earning genuine money and people who have made it genuinely are accorded great respect and considered role models, while those who have made money through dubious means are denied basic respect that transcends to their offspring and family members.
The people, therefore, lend their unflinching support to any means lawful that is taken to ensure that corruption is arrested, as well as anybody who is seen to lead the crusade against the canker.
In the late 1970s, the perceived and actual corruption that was endemic in the country was the main factor that catapulted the military into power.
Today, it may sound unbelievable to learn that the Ghanaian led the campaign to “Let the blood flow” that saw many people being “manhandled”.
The events of those times are still open to debate, but they are an indication of the people’s disgust for dishonesty.
Fast forward to the 2016 electioneering and corruption had become one of the main themes on which the various political parties ran their campaigns.
Even the ruling government then, which was being strongly criticised, presented strong ideas of its desire to fight corruption, citing initiatives to haul its own before the law courts for acts of corruption.
Appropriately, therefore, when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) promised what voters considered to be a real commitment to fight corruption, including the setting up of the Office of the Special Prosecutor, they went to the polls to vote in the NPP.
The President, on assuming office, and true to the party’s promise, set up the office and appointed Mr Martin Amidu, a known anti-corruption crusader, as the Special Prosecutor.
The generality of Ghanaians applauded the appointment, but the anti-corruption instinct of the Ghanaian came to play when citizens started complaining about the long time it was taking for his presence to be felt, all because of the absence of a governing board for the office.
We applaud President Akufo-Addo and his government for finally inaugurating the board to make the ingredients that will make the Special Prosecutor’s work complete.
As the Daily Graphic welcomes the board to office, we want to remind the office of the huge expectation of Ghanaians.
The news recently that the country loses $3 billion annually through corruption is really disheartening and it is due to this that we encourage the members of the board to use their expertise to help the office to succeed, so that corruption will become highly unattractive in Ghana.
As an independent prosecutorial agency, the Office of the Special Prosecutor is mandated to ensure due process and the principles of the rule of law and this is exactly the assignment that the board should help carry out without fear or favour, ill will or malice.