Ashanti Region Tops Corruption – Report

Current statistics have fingered the Ashanti Region as the most corrupt region in the country.

This unfavourable report shown by SEND Ghana, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) revealed, the Ashanti Region topped all 10 regions in the payment of bribe for basic needs, including health and education.

Speaking at a multi stakeholder dialogue on corruption, organised by the Ghana Integrity Initiative, in Accra, Country Director for SEND Ghana, George Osei-Bimpeh said this data was garnered through an extensive research conducted across the country.

Overall, the study sort to ascertain the cost of corruption in the health and education sectors as it relates to public institutions in Ghana and its impact on the lives of citizens.

According to Mr. Osei-Bimpeh, while 74% of people living in the Ashanti Region had experienced bribery in the bid to access education, approximately 44% of respondents admitted experiencing bribery in the health sector.

“On the national scale, nearly half of respondents representing 49.6% had experienced or have been aware of at least one corrupt activity in the education sector. This indicates that corrupt practices are quite prevalent in this sector,” he said.

On the other hand, about 36% claimed they had not experienced any form of corrupt activity in the sector.

The Western, Eastern and the Greater Accra Regions however recorded the least.

“There must be something unique about the Western Region, for its citizens being the lowest in experiencing the situations which they have to pay money to access services in the health and education sectors.

“So, we must go to the Western Region and find out what is unique about that region,” Mr. Osei-Bimpeh said.

Without overlooking other serious socioeconomic challenges bedevilling the nation, corruption appears to be the greatest problem confronting us today.

Across all statements, majority of respondents in the research, agreed that corruption in the education sector negatively affects development.

Monetary Value

On the national scale, most of the amounts of bribe payments were generally less than GH¢100 cedis at 67.3%. Those who paid between GH¢200-500 and GH¢500-1000 were pegged at 27.6% and 2% respectively.

Thankfully, no respondent admitted paying above GH¢2000 as bribe.

Recommendation

In consultation with all relevant stakeholders in the health and education sectors, Mr. Osei Bimpeh suggests an anti-corruption behaviour be cultivated by reviewing and promoting the enforcement of existing professional codes of conduct in the health and education sector.

The research

In all, five districts in  all 10 regions were purposively selected, (except in UE/R where 4 districts were selected), totalling 49 districts.

At least 100 questionnaires were administered in each district across different occupational groups, including students.

4,907 observations were gathered that formed the sample size and the basis of the analysis. The data was collected in October 2017.

By: Grace Ablewor Sogbey/ [email protected]