UGBS hosts CDD-Ghana for a Roundtable Discussion
The Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) held a Round Table Discussion in collaboration with the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS). The event focused on the theme "New Frontiers in Governance: State Capture and Corruption, Implications for Ghana, and Africa." The panel for the conversation were Dr. Daniel Kaufmann, President of the Natural Resource Governance Institute, Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, the Executive Director of EOCO, Mr. Kissi Agyebeng, the Special Prosecutor, Ms. Mavis Zupork Dome, Research Analyst and Coordinator for CDD-Ghana and Mr. Bright Simons, the President of mPedigree Network. The Dean of the University of Ghana Business School, Prof. Justice N. Bawole served as the moderator for the event.
Moderating the event, Prof. Bawole noted that present at the meeting were policymakers who could better address the concerns of Ghanaians. He added that the issue of corruption is a global conversation and encouraged all present to engage in the fight and always remember that our culture despises corruption. He stressed the school’s role of educating and developing students to restrain corruption.
Speakers presented research findings and insights on corruption in Ghana and Africa. Ms. Mavis Zupork discussed Afrobarometer's role, revealing a 77% increase in corruption in Ghana based on their data. She further mentioned that even though corruption may not be the topmost problem among African countries, most people reference corruption cases to police, public.
Mr. Bright Simons explored the hidden aspects of state capture in Ghana, citing case studies such as the Ghana Card, Digital Addressing, Revenue Assurance, and the Touch and Go Revolution in Mass Transit. He described Ghana’s situation as ‘State Enchantment’.
Taking his turn, Dr. Daniel Kaufmann presented on, ‘Governance, linked with corruption and the rule of law.’ He spoke about the processes by which authorities are selected and replaced and used the worldwide governance indicators for all countries for 2000, 2012, 2017, and 2022 to explain the governance systems and the rate of corruption and how it is controlled.
Mr. Kissi Agyebeng, the Special Prosecutor mentioned that the fight against corruption has been happening for over 25 years but not much success has been achieved worldwide hence the Office of the Special Prosecutor should be nurtured and not condemned because it faces a huge challenge where it does not get to function independently. He also emphasised one these questions, ‘Are we ready to fight corruption and allow the Office of the Special Prosecutor to fight corruption? Do we genuinely despise corruption?’
Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, the Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office, (EOCO) shared thoughts on efforts and challenges faced by the office in fighting corruption. She emphasised that fighting corruption is not about the law but leadership. Leaders must be proactive and generous because corruption comes through service delivery so therefore effective office control measures must be prioritised.
She again said that evidence gathering to support criminal activity for prosecution has been a major challenge, but systems are being put in place to deter people from corrupt activities.
The CDD mission of ‘Bridging research and practice to promote good governance’ concluded with a question-and-answer session.