Sir Sam Jonah

Sam Jonah on the current corruption in Ghana and why citizens must speak up

Enoch Darfah Frimpong Politics Sep - 06 - 2023 , 18:48 11 minutes read

Statesman Sir Sam Jonah has spoken about the current national economic challenges and corruption facing Ghana and has urged citizens to speak up.

In a keynote address at the 2023 annual general conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSG) in Takoradi today, [Wednesday, Sept 6], Sir Sam Jonah said Ghana was going through excruciating times and it was "only fair to be truthful and acknowledge that people are enduring immense hardship."

He said "Confidence in key institutions are on the decline. Checks and balances which are desperately needed for the progress of any nation are seriously compromised."

"Corruption and greed have eaten deep into the fabric of our nation. Young people are fast losing hope and the dignity of labour. Public services, which are already paid for by taxpayers’ money are subject to bribes solicited by public officials in order to speed up processes or to exempt people from necessary procedures."

Corruption examples echoed by ministers and quoted by Sam Jonah

Citing various examples of corrupt activities recently echoed by some government officials, Sir Sam Jonah expressed worry that, "today, despite all that is happening, one hardly hears from professional bodies regarding the welfare of the nation."

"Most associations will only be heard when it concerns their salaries or businesses. Teachers’ associations, journalists, nurses, doctors, surveyors, lawyers, accountants, architects, planners, social workers, psychologists etc. are all present in this country."

He said what was lacking was the ability of these bodies to assert themselves with the requisite patriotic zeal in matters of national concern.

"Your civic responsibility enjoins you to be active citizens in the affairs of the nation. Keeping silent is not the way to do that. If you see things going on that are not right expect your society to speak up so that your members become active citizens, he added."

Adding, the senior citizen said "Any society which creates conditions for politics to become the easiest and, by far, the most lucrative means of enrichment and self aggrandizement, is a society that is doomed. Civil society and a few concerned and courageous individuals have raised their voices, but it appears it is not enough. Thankfully I am not the only one befuddled and unsettled by all this. Just last month, the Senior Presidential Advisor, Mr. Yaw Osafo Marfo lamented over the alarming rate of corruption in Ghana stating that it is going from bad to worse.

Within days after Mr. Osafo-Marfo’s speech, the minister of roads Mr Kwesi Amoako-Atta was also captured commenting on the pervasiveness of corruption in his ministry. “There are a lot of corrupt people; there are a lot of thieves in my Ministry. You sack them… you employ new ones, and when they come, the new ones are even worse than the old ones. What kind of country are we building for ourselves?” he said. What a terrible indictment.

Recently, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchway stormed the passport office to chase out overstayed officers.

Of an agency under her ministry she asked how passport services of 100 and 200 Ghana cedis were being charged illegally at 2000 and 3 000 Ghana cedis respectively. “The goro boys are outside the passport office, she said, but they need somebody inside to work with; they cannot do it on their own.” There are many instances of senior public officials in charge of affairs speaking of corruption. Just yesterday, the Attorney-General Mr Godfred Yeboah Dame bemoaned how public officials responsible for procurement activities in public institutions continue to engage in insider trading, an act he says is having significant negative impact on the economy, and the development of society.

Once again I will like to quote what the current Finance Minister said on the power of Truth. “The power of truth is eternal; the comfort of falsehood and security of complicity are transient and unstable. As Ghanaians, we must learn to speak to truth to power; Truth is liberating; truth set free the mind burdened by falsehood. Truth is freedom . And our national enjoins us to be ‘bold to defend forever. The cause of freedom and of right.’ Truth is just, and it is right. Ladies and gentlemen, I must. Say I completely agree these sentiments.

Conference

The conference, held at the Airforce Base in Takoradi was on theme “Pharmacist for national development.”

Sir Sam Jonah described the theme for the conference as "apt, judicious and timely, given the circumstances in which our beloved nation Ghana has found itself in the last 3 decades under the fourth republican constitution."

Below is an excerpt from the speech delivered by Sir Sam Jonah

4. NATIONAL ECONOMIC CHALLENGES AND CORRUPTION

As you all know, this country is going through excruciating times. It is only fair to be truthful and acknowledge that people are enduring immense hardship.
Livelihoods and standards of living have taken a massive hit during the economic turmoil that Ghana has been grappling with in recent years.
Headline inflation reached 43% in July this year with food inflation reaching 55%. It goes without saying that the poorest citizens are the worst hit as their meagre incomes are eroded by rapid increases in prices of basic necessities like food, milk and milk products for babies, meats, fruits, vegetables, even drinking water.
The consequences are that hundreds of thousands of Ghanaians are increasingly unable to afford the necessaries of life.

The World Bank recently reported that in 2022 about 850,000 Ghanaians were pushed below the poverty line.
Beyond inflation, we are all aware of the debt albatross, which has led to massive interest payments over the years depriving critical sectors of much-needed investment.
For example, just last year 2022, interest payments alone amounted to over 45 billion Ghana cedis, almost double the capital expenditure for the year, and about 47% of all revenue; meaning for every 1 cedi received as revenue, nearly 50 pesewas was used to pay interest. This is unsustainable.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we are where we are but the health of our nation is not what we want it to be. Like in a patient, the systems that must work together to ensure wellness are not functioning as expected and, as a result, our values are under siege.
Confidence in key institutions are on the decline. Checks and balances which are desperately needed for the progress of any nation are seriously compromised. Corruption and greed have eaten deep into the fabric of our nation. Young people are fast losing hope and the dignity of labour. Public services, which are already paid for by taxpayers’ money are subject to bribes solicited by public officials in order to speed up processes or to exempt people from necessary procedures.
It is here too. Lest I forget, how did the entire stores holding pharmaceuticals at Ghana’s biggest harbour burn down with no evidence nor records whatsoever of the stocks therein?
According to the Ghana Integrity of Public Services report, almost 60% of bribe payers did so as a response to a direct request by a public official while 24% paid anyway without a request from the official they encountered.
We must do all we can to ensure corruption does not become the norm. In this regard, leadership must be exemplary in fighting corruption, and holders of political office must lead the way.
Sadly, recent scandals do not help. Findings and successive Auditor-General’s reports make depressing reading, and it behoves every citizen especially politicians and public office holders to uproot this canker.
Let me be clear on this: Any society which creates conditions for politics to become the easiest and, by far, the most lucrative means of enrichment and self aggrandizement, is a society that is doomed. Civil society and a few concerned and courageous individuals have raised their voices, but it appears it is not enough. Thankfully I am not the only one befuddled and unsettled by all this. Just last month, the Senior Presidential Advisor, Mr. Yaw Osafo Marfo lamented over the alarming rate of corruption in Ghana stating that it is going from bad to worse.
Within days after Mr. Osafo-Marfo’s speech, the minister of roads Mr Kwesi Amoako-Atta was also captured commenting on the pervasiveness of corruption in his ministry. “There are a lot of corrupt people; there are a lot of thieves in my Ministry. You sack them… you employ new ones, and when they come, the new ones are even worse than the old ones. What kind of country are we building for ourselves?” he said. What a terrible indictment.
Clearly, this is a shared concern, and it is important that the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana is heard on these issues of national importance if pharmacists are to play your part in rebuilding our nation. Corruption deters domestic and foreign investment, undermines trust in public institutions, reduces economic growth, and sadly makes the lives of the poor even more unbearable.
Specifically for your sector, corruption endangers lives through fake and substandard medication, unqualified personnel and woefully inadequate infrastructure.
I recognize that each of you as individuals, for one reason or another, may not be able to speak up. If you wonder why I speak my mind, it is because those of us who have benefitted from the kindness of this nation and the long life God has granted us owe a duty to God and country to speak up not only for what benefits us personally but for what safeguards the entire society.
I don’t know about you but I have no other country but Ghana. And I do not want any country but Ghana. Every capable citizen blessed with some ability and a voice must speak against the wrongs and help get our motherland Ghana on its right footing. I am not saying you should be me, however you have something powerful. You have a respected professional body, and you need to recognize the power of your voice as a collective.
If you see things going on in any sector of this country that you don’t think is right, you have to speak up for the sake of the country, for the sake of the future, for the sake of our children and grandchildren. In troubling times like these, silence is not an option. Ten years ago, the following words were spoken by Mr Ken Ofori Atta, the current Finance Minister at a lecture to honour William Ofori Atta.
These words are so true today: “In the face of injustice, apathy is criminality. To be apathetic toward issues that can destroy our country is to be negligent of the present and inconsiderate towards the future; to be indifferent when your voice can make a difference, or to be silent when those without voices count on you to voice their yearnings, their fears, their aspirations, and their hopes does not amount to being a peaceful person. On the contrary, to be so is to be a coward”.
Recently, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchway stormed the passport office to chase out overstayed officers. Of an agency under her ministry she asked how passport services of 100 and 200 Ghana cedis were being charged illegally at 2000 and 3 000 Ghana cedis respectively. “The goro boys are outside the passport office, she said, but they need somebody inside to work with; they cannot do it on their own.” There are many instances of senior public officials in charge of affairs speaking of corruption. Just yesterday, the Attorney-General Mr Godfred Yeboah Dame bemoaned how public officials responsible for procurement activities in public institutions continue to engage in insider trading, an act he says is having significant negative impact on the economy, and the development of society.
Today, despite all that is happening, one hardly hears from professional bodies regarding the welfare of the nation.
Most associations will only be heard when it concerns their salaries or businesses. Teachers’ associations, journalists, nurses, doctors, surveyors, lawyers, accountants, architects, planners, social workers, psychologists etc. are all present in this country.
What is lacking is the ability of these bodies to assert themselves with the requisite patriotic zeal in matters of national concern.
Your civic responsibility enjoins you to be active citizens in the affairs of the nation. Keeping silent is not the way to do that. If you see things going on that are not right expect your society to speak up so that your members become active citizens.
Once again I will like to quote what the current Finance Minister said on the power of Truth. “The power of truth is eternal; the comfort of falsehood and security of complicity are transient and unstable. As Ghanaians, we must learn to speak to truth to power; Truth is liberating; truth set free the mind burdened by falsehood. Truth is freedom . And our national enjoins us to be ‘bold to defend forever. The cause of freedom and of right.’ Truth is just, and it is right. Ladies and gentlemen, I must. Say I completely agree these sentiments.