Corruption is not peculiar to Ghana, as every country, has its own fair share of this canker. What comes up for consideration is how other climes are able to deal with it and reduce it to the barest minimum.
It is becoming trite talking about pervasive corruption in the country. Even worse is the position, the judicial arm of government, which is supposed to represent the conscience of the nation occupies now.
They is no gainsaying the fact that, nothing gets done in this country, without money exchanging hands. People in positions of authority, have continued to be perceived to be complacent in their jobs, compromise on their duties and responsibilities.
A latest survey conducted by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) with other stakeholders in the fight against corruption, has ranked the Ghana Police Service as the most corrupt institution among 23 other institutions sampled.
The survey indicated that more than 17.4 million bribes were paid in 2021 with police officers topping the list of officials who take bribes at 53.2%.
The Ghana Immigration Service Officers and GRA customs officers come next, at 37.4% and 33.6% respectively, while elected government representatives are at the bottom of the list at 2.9%.
The Police service is not a stranger to corruption. It comes to them as second nature.
As a newspaper, the emphasis of this editorial is not about the police service, but other institutions of state mentioned in the corruption table.
Corruption is becoming very competitive, as institutions that are supposed to safeguard the safety and freedom of citizens are also caught in the corruption web.
The police service over the years, has topped the list, it is an enviable position, it is not ready to forgo, but was the survey about prevalence, perception or quantum, because all the police do is to, collect two cedis, five cedis and ten cedis maximum from mostly commercial drivers.
The concern of this newspaper is that, both the Executive and Judiciary, which are to ensure that corruption is made unattractive are themselves involved in it.
This newspaper considers it disheartening that because of the alleged corruption of state actors, those in position of authourity, may have run out of the zeal to point out the mistakes of others and correct same.
