Events that unfolded just before, during and after Ghana’s recent transition requires that the country strengthens its fight against corruption to improve good governance delivery, the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) said in a communiqué issued at the end of its two-day meeting in Accra at the weekend (27^TH – 28^TH MARCH 2009).

The Coalition which is made up of various public, private institutions and civil society groups working to reduce corruption said the country needs to take the necessary steps to ensure that every government adheres to strict rules and procedures that promote transparency and thereby ensure a smooth transition process.

It says successive governments have failed to carry out the necessary measures in a transparent and timely manner and as a result, embroiled the change-over process in needless controversy. The current situation has created a public perception of bad faith and corruption on the part of the past government and one of vindictiveness and vendetta on the part of the current one.

The GACC expressed its misgivings about the timing and circumstances surrounding the approval of the ex-gratia awards and other packages for the President, Members of Parliament and other office holders, which obviously did not ensure the necessary parliamentary scrutiny and transparency.

The GACC also called for the creation of the Office of the Administrator-General which would take inventory of all State assets, irrespective of which government was in power.

It is evident that the lack of a clear- cut procedure for handing-over by public officers including the vacation of their official residences has clearly resulted in unauthorized removal of State property. 

In addition, the Coalition noted with concern, the drastic reduction of budgetary allocations to key accountability institutions including CHRAJ, in spite of the Government’s avowed commitment to strengthen these Institutions to fight corruption.

The GACC therefore called on the Government to ensure the independence and efficiency of these anti-corruption institutions.

The GACC is a made up of;

• Ghana Conference for Religions for Peace (GCRP)
• Commission on Human Rights & Administrative Justice (CHRAJ)
• Serious Fraud Office (SFO)
• Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII)
• Private Enterprise Foundation (PEF)
• Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana)
• Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA)
• National Governance Secretariat (NGS) and the
• Ghana Journalist Association (GJA)

The meeting re-elected Reverend Dr. Fred Deegbe as Chairman and Ms. Anna Bossman as Vice-Chairperson. Dr. Osei Boeh-Ocansey was elected as the Honorary Treasurer. They will serve a four- year term.

SIGNED BY

FLORENCE F. DENNIS (MRS)

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY