by: Felix Acquaye
Whenever this ugly twin, “bribery and corruption” is mentioned, government becomes the subject of query. Meanwhile, this same bibery and corruption have taken stands in our daily individual dealings. It is an undeniable fact that government emanated corruption is malicious to the economy.
Yet, we as individuals must curb the petty trends of corruptedness in our daily lives before criticising government, remember “Charity begins at home”. One then may ask, what is bribery and corruption?
Bribery is a specific offence which concerns the practice of offering something, usually money, to gain an illicit advantage. If this then certifies the definition of bribery, let us then judge ourselves. Do you remember the Ghana cedi 5.00 note you fold into the policeman’s palm, anytime he stops your vehicle? The Ghana cedi 700.00 you gave to the administrator to pick your unqualified ward for the tertiary institution? The tip you offered the DVLA staff to disregard the normal procedure and fast make your driver’s license? Its quite laughable, when we turn all these down and still criticise government with bribery and theft. If possible, let us audit our own “pinksheets”, before we do for that of others.
Corruption can also be defined as an abuse of a position of trust to gain an undue advantage. It is obvious that government officials do embezzle state funds, misuse resources and even privatize state-owned enterprises. Now, let’s come to think of it. The Shs headmaster who admits students whose parents have rewarded him. The building inspector who takes money and allows you build at an unapproved place. The crook plan you hatch with your relative, by forcefully making him a contractor and lobbying for government project for him, so you can have your share. Knowing now these cited ones and more to come, you would all bear with me that bribery and corruption is becoming a normality.
Even, when someone does a job he’s being paid for, he still wants some sort of inducement from the client. In an instance, where you submit a form, application letter.etc but you failed to endorse your document with a fat envelop, then forget it because, your document won’t be worked on. Whereas, some corruptible persons would ask for rewards in plain language, others too would depict it in their own styles. When you are greeted, for more than two times, then you should be looking to give out something. Showering you with unnecessary praises like “boosu”, “chief”, “honourable”, “many3 one” and the likes, is another way of doing it.
If Bribery and Corruption is not even sparing Religion and Culture then we have a long way to go. People pay church leaders inorder to be given positions and titles such as Rev, Apostle, Head pastor, Most Rev.etc. Kingmakers are even bribed to discard the normal proceedings of inheritance and make wrongful heirs to the throne.
It is indeed a great whoredom, bribery and corruption is driving us wayward and if measures are not put in place to counteract this canker, our generation to come would be like hell on earth.
This article was written by Felix Acquaye and originally published on spyghana
