DEALING WITH CORRUPTION: ANY WAY OUT?

In recent times there have been calls on Government to consider introducing a subject called
“corruption studies” from our basic schools through Junior High School to Senior School to
deal with issues of corruptions that have engulfed the state. One of those calls came from
the Principal of Jackson College of Education, Mrs. Theodosia Jackson, who has charged
developers of educational curriculum to seriously consider the study of corruption as a
subject which she believes could be the surest way to help reduce the incidence of corruption
in the country.

Another call came from the Head Pastor of the Calvary Charismatic Centre in Kumasi,
Ransford Obeng, who also called for the inclusion of lessons about corruption into the
country’s educational system. He believes this would go a long way to engrain in the minds
of the future leaders the need to uphold high moral standards.

Even though I agree with these propositions since they would help to imbibe in the “young
minds” the essence of integrity, I bet to differ from them on the introduction of new subjects.
This is because our current syllabuses on Religious and Moral Education at the basic and
Junior High School level have enough content that could mould all of us into morally upright
persons.

Corruption is defined as an unlawful use of official power or influence by an official of the

government either to enrich himself or further his course and/or any other person at the
expense of the public, in contravention of his oath of office and/or contrary to the
conventions or laws that are in force. These corrupt activities include money laundering,
unconventional and fraudulent trade practices, misappropriation or diversion of funds, kick
backs, under and over invoicing, bribery and false declarations.

Now to the beef of this article which is that there is no need to introduce any “new” subject in
our educational curriculum since the current state of curriculum has enough to teach the
young ones to eschew bad acts in any form. For instance, Religious and Moral Education,
syllabus, Primary four, section two, unit two: Reward and punishment has its objectives as: to
explain why good deeds are rewarded and bad deeds punished. Under the content: rewards
and punishments, pupils are to understand types of actions that are rewarded at home: -
running errands, being obedient etc and types of actions that are punished at home: -lying,
stealing, fighting, truancy etc.

Moreover, at the JHS, Religious and Moral Education, syllabus, JHS Three, section two, unit
one: Good Deeds and Rewards and UNIT 2 Bad Deeds and Punishment, have set out the
following objectives: to mention acts considered as good/bad deeds, describe types of
reward/punishment, explain the need to show appreciation, explain the moral significance for
performing good deeds, describe deeds that are punishable and to discuss the need to avoid
wrong and bad deeds.

It is clear from these objectives and the content of the JHS, Religious and Moral Education
syllabus is a reinforcement of what has been learnt at the primary level. Looking at this
elaborate scheme for teaching and learning by our children of what is right or wrong and its
corresponding actions, one wonders what content else would have been taught if a different
subject had been introduced to deal with a delinquent behaviour like corruption.

Governments over the years have introduced much legislation suitable to deal with corruption
and its related crimes. We can mention, The Public Procurement Act, 2003 whose object is to
harmonise the processes of public procurement in the public service to secure a judicious,
economic and efficient use of state resources in public procurement and ensure that public
procurement is carried out in a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory manner. There are
also Public Financial Management Act, 2016 whose object is to regulate the financial
management of the public sector within a macroeconomic and fiscal framework, the recently
created Special prosecutor’s office, Public Account Committee of parliament and Auditor
general’s office (who is recently demanding from Attorney general special powers to
prosecute offenders) to deal with corrupt acts.

Laws on our books alone are not enough to stop criminals from engaging in crimes. These
laws would need someone to enforce them and another to judge whether these laws are
actually broken. These laws must be enforced rigorously. If the police and other bodies
tasked to investigate, arrest and prosecute alleged criminals, themselves are corrupt, our
efforts to fight corruption cannot be achieved.
The Judiciary must be fair and firm in their dealings. Their fair and unbiased adjudication can
go a long way to curb corruption. People who commit crime must be held accountable for
their deeds. Raghunandan was apt when he said “Corruption nearly always follows a
formula; C=M+D-A (Monopoly + discretion – accountability). Corruption is a crime of
calculation, not of passion. Large numbers drift into corruption if risks are low, penalties are
mild and rewards great; they will move out if the system is tightened.

Wodewole Kwabla Emmanuel

emmanuelwodewole@yahoo.com
0244993966/0202611603