The National House of Chiefs (NHC) has attributed the numerous
uncompleted projects, joblessness, broken homes, poverty, suffering and
the general slow pace of development in Ghana to the failure of
successive governments to fight corruption.
According to a statement signed by Togbe Afede XIV, President, and
Daasebre Nana Kwebu Ewusi VII, Vice President, there had been countless
number of corruption cases recorded in the past and present governments,
and yet, no government was able to gather the confidence to fight it.
“The list of scandals and controversies is endless: Guinea fowl
scandal; SSNIT software scandal; NHIS scandal; GYEEDA saga; BOST
contaminated fuel scandal; GFA 2018 scandal; Ghana Judiciary scandal;
Ghana Electoral Commission scandal; Tema Port scandal; Cocoa Board
scandal; Eurobond scandal; NCA scandal; National Cathedral; Ameri
scandal; new 450 Chamber Parliament Complex; PDS scandal, etc. The list
is, indeed, endless,” it noted.
The statement indicated that corruption had benefited a few
individuals, but kept hurting the country in many ways; diversion of
resources from urgently needed development projects; increased
government debt; caused leakages that create distortions and made
management of the economy difficult; and undermined price and exchange
rate stability.
“Corruption has also undermined productivity and the ability of the
economy to create jobs and incomes; discouraged hard work, and stifled
innovation and initiative, as people look for short cuts to wealth;
contributed to the increasing crime rate; brought acrimony into our
politics, and bred indiscipline and vigilantism; harmed the image of our
nation; and led to mass poverty and suffering. Given the humiliation
and inhumane treatment that black Africans are subjected to all over the
world, one would have expected our leaders to commit themselves to
working for the advancement of their countrymen, and the restoration of
their dignity and pride,” the statement added.
It bemoaned that after 62 years of nationhood, most Ghanaians were
still muffled by poverty and could not access the basic necessities of
shelter, food, water, health, education, electricity, roads and good
drainage, jobs and incomes, enhanced living standards, and ultimately,
happiness.
Resort to suicide or migration
The members of the NHC also expressed concern over the growing stories
of people, young and old, taking their own lives due to their unbearable
living conditions. They maintained that poverty was also the reason why
most of the youth of Ghana thought that everywhere else was better than
Ghana, and so were willing to risk their lives through deserts and
across stormy seas, to escape from the difficulties at home, and in
search of greener pastures. The House of Chiefs recalled the unfortunate
murder of 44 Ghanaians in cold blood in The Gambia in 2005, who were
only exercising their right to pursue happiness, which they could not
find at home.
Poverty should not be our lot
The chiefs could not comprehend why Ghana should be poor or struggle to
cater for the basic needs of her citizens, in spite of all the
available natural resources and unimaginable fertile land.
Ghana, they said, was endowed with a lot of natural resources such as
bauxite, diamonds, gold, iron ore, timber, cocoa, salt, and oil and gas
among many others, coupled with the vibrant, energetic, educated and
peace-loving human resource, and therefore, did not have to be poor.
The statement encouraged the future leaders [youth] not to allow
themselves to be used by self-seekers, as serial callers, let alone
vigilantes, to attack the few people who dare to speak for them.
It charged the people of Ghana to begin to insist on their traditional
and political leaders to use the resources of the state prudently for
the sole benefit of the people, and in pursuance of their development
needs. “Leadership is an opportunity to serve, not to exploit. We must
hold our leaders to account. Enough of the politricks!”