The government has thrown a challenge to the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) to provide credible proof of corruption at the Office of the President.
The IEA on Wednesday released the results of a survey it conducted in the ten regions of the country which named the Presidency as the second of ten most corrupt institutions in the country.
The office came second only to the police which has traditionally been named as the most corrupt institutions in most surveys.
Of the 1,200 respondents interviewed 23 percent of them think that nearly all police officials are corrupt.
For the office of the president, 19.2 percent of respondents think it is equally corrupt. Tax officials and Members of Parliament placed third and fourth with 15.4 and 15 percent respectively.
Others are government officials generally (13.9%) District Chief Executives (13.3%) judges and magistrates (13.1%), Assemblymen and women (11.9%) Immigration (10.4%) and the Army (7.0%).
But in a statement signed by the Minister for Communications, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah said, “Government strenuously rejects any such suggestion that the Office is corrupt, let alone being the second most corrupt institution in Ghana.”
“The practice where groups or organisations purport to conduct polls and through a visceral approach publish their outcomes in a manner that seeks to create the impression of corruption does little to advance the fight against corruption”, the Minister stated.
He therefore challenged the IEA to offer credible proof to back their claims, adding that, Government has been taking far-reaching steps including reforms in public financial administration and the establishment of tighter controls as part of efforts to address the issue of corruption. He also indicated that the IEA must bring out for verification the methodology for the so-called perception survey.
According to Dr. Omane Boamah, it is a matter of public record that no Government has done more to expose and punish corruption like the John Mahama administration. He noted that organisations seeking to discuss the subject need to be guided by verified facts not unfounded accusations hiding under the cover of perception.
Additionally, the timing of the release of this purported survey just a day before the President presents the Stat of the Nation Address cannot be lost on the objective minded members of the public.
Government, the Minister stated, will continue to focus on its transformation agenda and cherishes the continuous support of the citizenry towards the building of a Better Ghana. African Eye News.com
