Hidden Riches, Hollow Laws: Exposing the Cost of Corruption in Ghana

                                          By [JoJoe BUCKNOR-BAFFOE] | 12onlineNEWS.com

 At a recent forum on corruption, a passionate call to action echoed through the chambers: “If you try to fight corruption, corruption will fight you.” This grim reality served as the foundation of a powerful address that explored the deep entrenchment of corruption in Ghana and how its invisible tentacles are stifling national progress.

 The speakers delved into the theme “Hidden Riches, Hollow Laws,” highlighting not only the structural and legal efforts made to combat corruption but also the gaping loopholes that continue to allow the practice to fester.

From politics and governance to culture and tradition, corruption has not spared any part of Ghanaian society. As noted, recent headlines in the Ghanaian Times, Daily Guide, and Daily Graphic have all focused on scandals involving former public officials and shady government contracts.

The arrest of former GRA officials in connection with the controversial SML contract.

The apprehension of a former CEO of the Buffer Stock Company by EOCO.

Reports of fake schools, ghost teachers, and misallocated public funds.

Each incident, the speakers argued, represents more than individual greed—it reflects systemic failure and weak legal enforcement, particularly around conflict of interest and post-tenure influence.

Drawing from academic and legal sources, the address emphasized that corruption isn’t just bribery—it’s a distortion of entrusted power for personal gain.

Citing Section 239 of the Criminal Offences Act (Act 29 of 1960), the speakers listed acts such as:

Bribery before or after an official duty, abuse of office for personal favors, Exploiting traditional "gift-giving" culture to mask bribery

Importantly, Ghana’s Anti-Corruption Action Plan recognizes that the misuse of entrusted power—regardless of sector—is the core of the issue.

Referencing Kofi Annan and international frameworks like the UN Convention Against Corruption, the address reminded the audience of the global consensus on the dangers of corruption:

 It weakens democracy, undermines the rule of law and breeds inequality, and discourages investment.

Ghana loses billions annually to corruption. In 2018 alone, it was estimated that GH₵13.8 billion ($3 billion) vanished through corrupt practices—an amount equivalent to the IMF loan Ghana requested over three years. “Are we net borrowers or net losers?” the speakers questioned.

The most devastating impact is felt by ordinary citizens:

Children still lie on their bellies to write due to a lack of desks.

Pregnant women risk their lives crossing rivers without bridges.

Roads wash away with every rainfall due to shoddy contracts.

Corruption isn’t abstract—it’s the reason for poor infrastructure, failing hospitals, and weak education systems.

From procurement processes to license issuance and privatization schemes, corruption is enabled by legal grey areas and weak enforcement. Private sector actors, often overlooked, are active participants, bribing officials to win contracts or avoid taxes.

Even institutions meant to fight corruption are underfunded, underpowered, or themselves compromised. The speaker stressed, “We have all the laws, all the institutions. What we lack is commitment.”

This address wasn't just a lament. It was a clarion call—to journalists, to civil society, to public servants and citizens. The fight must begin with resourcing the institutions tasked with fighting corruption, ensuring transparency in procurement, and enforcing laws without fear or favor.

The final message was sobering: corruption is not an abstract evil—it’s a daily injustice. And unless we take collective action, Ghana’s hollow laws will remain hidden behind the riches of the corrupt.