Former National Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Freddie Blay, has acknowledged the pervasive nature of corruption, asserting that it is a global phenomenon and not exclusive to Ghana.
In response to a statement by former Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, who expressed concerns about corruption during a Constitution Day Public Lecture, Blay agreed that corruption has detrimental effects on the economy. However, he emphasized that it is a challenge faced by developing countries worldwide.
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“I did say that corruption is a canker; it eats. Corruption is so pervasive and so harmful to our economy. About the third of whatever our GDP is, is lost to corruption. People could lose confidence in their own economy, that the only way to go about it is to find a very bad way of circumventing the system, avoiding to pay taxes and so forth. It is not good. It distorts the economy. Corruption is not just typical to Ghana, I believe it’s all over the world and moreso, we the developing countries,” Blay stated on Hot Issues with Keminni Amanor on January 14.
Freddie Blay’s remarks were prompted by Dr. Afari-Gyan’s assertion that public institutions tasked with combating corruption are not doing enough. Afari-Gyan called for measures to curb the menace, expressing concern over the country’s increasing poverty due to pervasive corruption.
Blay, however, disagreed with the notion that Ghana has become poorer due to corruption, highlighting the country’s progress toward middle-income status. He commended the efforts of the Akufo-Addo-led administration in implementing policies to combat corruption, emphasizing the importance of institutional frameworks and policies in the fight against corruption.
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“The government of Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo, so far as I am concerned, has put in more efforts under the third and fourth republic, to fight corruption than any other government that I can think of. I am being sincere,” Blay remarked.
