"Present-day Ghana is openly and pervasively corrupt" - Catholic Bishops

Europa

September 22, 2015 3:04 PM

“Time and again, we have, through various communiqués, pastoral letters and press statements, among others, spoken about the twin evils of bribery and corruption in Ghana, emphasising the need for all of us to deal with this canker"

Rev. Osei-Bonsu

The Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference has said the Tiger Eye PI exposé on the judicial bribery scandal is a reflection of the extent to which bribery and corruption prevails in the society. The Bishops said even though government has prosecuted some high-level government officials and set up various Commissions of Inquiry into alleged corrupt practices at high levels, there was more to be done.

A statement signed by its President, Most Rev Joseph Osei-Bonsu, said “present-day Ghana is openly and pervasively corrupt. People at all levels of society, including some Christians, are engaged in naked corruption with impunity”.

It was of the view that every Ghanaian had a role to play in fighting bribery and corruption.

The catholic bishops said :“Time and again, we have, through various communiqués, pastoral letters and press statements, among others, spoken about the twin evils of bribery and corruption in Ghana, emphasising the need for all of us to deal with this canker to save our nation from collapsing under the unbridled love for money,”.

The statement called on the Chief Justice and the Judicial Council to deal with all judges who would be found culpable in the judicial bribery scandal.

The statement took notice of the three interlocutory injunction applications filed by some of the affected judges and appealed to the Judicial Council and the Chief Justice to expedite action on investigations into the matter to ensure fairness and justice to all and to bring a speedy resolution and closure to the case.

“We believe in the ability of the Chief Justice and the Judicial Council to resolve the pending issues expeditiously and to carry out the necessary reforms to restore integrity and honour to our judicial system while we pledge to accompany the process with our support and prayers,” it said.

It also took notice of the negative impact and potential damage that the Tiger Eye PI exposé on judicial corruption might have caused to the image of the country in the international community and said nothing should be left to chance to restore that image.

The Bishops Conference however commended judges and magistrates who rejected the offer of bribes.

“We hold them as examples and rays of light and hope for all Ghanaians in general and lawyers in particular to emulate. Fortunately, we still have men and women of proven integrity and honour in Ghana and so all hope is not lost in the battle against bribery and corruption,” the statement stressed.

The Bishops also assured Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his team of their prayers to encourage the team to expose the rot in the judiciary even at the risk of their lives.

The statement welcomed assurances by the Ghana Police Service that it was providing the necessary protection and security to Anas and his team.

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