The menace of corruption has been discussed extensively in Ghana and continues to be the topmost issues voter's based their decisions on during general elections. The corruption in Ghana is skyrocketing from widespread to systemic where it is becoming the new normal. There has been various talks about the root cause of this canker and how to curb in a society that is so entrench in corruption. There's no doubt that corruption stems from the society and thus, measure should be put in place to curb it. There's an argument from some people that the because society itself is corrupt, it has no moral right to accuse leaders since they are products of the society.
Some leaders argue that, the social fabric particularly the family systems are the institutions that nurtures corruption and ingrained it in the mind of family members. Part of those who churn out this narratives are those who believe the call of the government to fix the country should rather be a call on the individual to fix themselves. Most often Ghanaian leaders in power are quick to assert that corruption is nothing but a perception which is perceived by the public opinion. They fail to accept that indeed the phenomenon is endemic and detrimental the the growth of the country.
Contrary to some these arguments, corruption of not just a manifestation of the state of the society alone, but also the failure of leadership. The political leadership vested with the executive power has no one to blame but their failure to tame this canker. They fail to realize that they themselves are embodiments of corruption due to how they perpetuate it while in power.
Again the misguided leadership has failed to realize that it take a true leader to change o society that is deeply rooted in corruption. The success stories in Singapore, Malaysia and most Asian counties are attributed to leaders that were not fond of mere rhetoric and populism, but rather leaders that discipline themselves by putting their house in order. The results of a true incorruptible leader is that, it always have a trickle down effects. Our leadership do not have the moral authority to condemn societal corruption where they themselves presides over corruption and fight those who tries to remedy such anomalous. The political class in Ghana has not make conscious efforts to control not to talk of stopping this widespread canker. All indicators from the Transparency International indicates that corruption is on the rise yet leadership are heard throwing tantrums on these agencies and their sample size as well as legitimacy.
The house cleaning exercise started by the PNDC regime did not succeed because the leadership did not mean it, which in later years proved that it was just another political populism and rhetoric. All state functionaries and agencies that could help in the fight against corruption has been rendered incapacitated through deliberate denial of funds and resources. This notwithstanding, leadership are okay to fund policies that are not engineered to develop the country.
To conclude, the canker of corruption is one that is condemned by all even by those involve in it. Yet it takes a true leader to admit that in as much as the genesis of corruption is from the society, there could be a remedy if they(leadership) curbs it right from the top. This would have a trickle down effect because followers does nothing but emulate their leaders. Great leaders are those who brings out the greatness of their society by leading as an example.
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