‘This Thing Called Corruption’ Book Launched with a Call to Change Attitudes, Foster Culture of Accountability.

Accra: A book titled 'This Thing Called Corruption' has been launched with a call to change attitudes, strengthen systems, and foster a culture of accountability. The 220-page document examines the multifaceted issues of corruption in Ghana, from its historical roots to its modern-day impacts on society, economy, and politics, and the role government, citizens, businesses, and policymakers must play to dismantle the canker.According to Ghana News Agency, the book, written by Mr. Jerry-John Nampari Yenabi, a Chartered Accountant and Elder of the Church of Pentecost, discusses the structural and cultural elements that allow corruption to thrive. It emphasizes the need to transform attitudes, strengthen systems, and foster accountability. The book's strength lies in its exploration of corruption across various sectors, including rural, urban, formal, informal, public, and private.An excerpt from the book questions the imbalance in societal character, criticizing religious institutions for failing to curb cor ruption. Another excerpt likens corruption to prostitution, suggesting it endangers the morals of the entire country. Mr. Nampari Yenabi said his motivation for writing emerged from witnessing corruption's corrosive effects, highlighting that its impacts go beyond statistics and financial losses.He described the book as a call to action, aiming to shed light on hidden truths, give voice to those affected, and encourage society to confront issues with commitment. He shared personal experiences, including an instance of attempted bribery and job denial due to corruption, illustrating individual roles in perpetuating the problem.Mr. Nampari Yenabi emphasized that fighting corruption requires collective responsibility, urging individuals to be informed, report wrongdoing, and hold themselves and leaders to higher standards. He stressed that it is not just about rooting out wrongdoing.Mrs. Mercy Larbi, Deputy CHRAJ Commissioner and Guest Speaker at the event, stated that corruption hinders human rights, good governance, and service delivery. She called for attitudinal change, rejecting cultural norms that accept corruption, and fostering transparency, integrity, reliability, and trust. She urged consideration of the public impact of actions and inactions.Mr. Fred Tua-Yeboah, Deputy Attorney General, who also attended the event, remarked that Ghanaians exhibit hypocrisy by blaming only the political class for corruption. He warned that corruption depletes state resources and poses a threat to humanity, advocating for reduced human interference in service delivery and allowing systems to function properly.