Bishops in Ghana Decry “massive uncontrolled corruption”, Call for Political Reawakening

“Should the constitution not be changed or bettered for it to work for all Ghanaians instead of for a few?” the Bishops pose, and add, “Should the legal system not be re-equipped to uproot corruption?”

“It is clear to Ghanaians that the beneficiaries of the political system in place, are not the people but the politicians and the political actors and others in high positions,” they say.

“Ghanaians are witnesses to the accumulated wealth that those in power make in record time as soon as they enter politics,” the Bishops say.

They say that Ghanaians are forced to look on helplessly because those in authority are protected by the constitution to do what they do and that they are never prosecuted “because politicians protect their kind.”

The Bishops have also faulted the country’s legislature for not standing up to their mandate of representing the people but, rather, sacrificing the people’s interests with personal and party interests, in a notion they say is driven by corruption.

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In their 9 nine-page statement, the Catholic Bishops in Ghana also express their concern about the country’s economy which they say continues to dwindle despite the country being a leading producer of oil.

According to the International Trade Administration (ITA), the petroleum sector in Ghana “has experienced significant growth, particularly since the discovery of oil in commercial quantities in the Jubilee fields in 2007.”

 ITA reports that Ghana’s oil and gas resources stretch across the country’s shoreline from Cape Three Points in the west to Keta in the east.

Despite this, it is reported that the country’s “average crude oil production capacity has been declining slightly over time, with an average of 176,000 barrels per day in September 2021.”

The Bishops also express their disappointment on why the country’s roads are in a pathetic situation and why its debt keeps increasing despite the mineral resources.

“Both governments keep borrowing and we are now in a deep financial crisis. Why are we in this economic and financial quagmire?” they pose.

They slam the political parties in the country for their “selfishness” and challenge politicians to emulate their colleagues in other countries for the sake of Ghana’s “political reawakening.”

“The Political changes around us on the continent should be a wakeup call for politicians to amend our constitution and legal systems in a peaceful democratic way, in a manner that makes the government work for the good of all the people of Ghana,” they say.

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.