The Executive Director of the Institute for Liberty and Policy Innovation (ILAPI), Peter Bismark Kwofie has commenced nationwide activism against widespread bribery and corruption in public sector recruitments in Ghana.
He began the nationwide campaign in Koforidua the Eastern regional capital on Monday, February 8, 2021, at the Eastern Regional Coordinating Council (RCC).
Addressing the media in Koforidua after picketing at the entrance of the Eastern Regional Coordinating Council, Mr. Peter Bismark largely blamed the phenomenon of corruption in public sector recruitment on protocol slots given to political appointees.
He described the protocol allocations as not only illegal but unfair, breeds Corruption, and denies competent people to be employed in public sectors affecting productivity therefore must be abolished.
“Such things (Protocol lists) are not part of the Act that mandates these Board members to operate with taxpayer’s money. There is no section in the Act of Parliament including the state own enterprises that Board Members should be given protocol lists or protocol slots, and this thing should stop it is not something we should say should reduce. The institutions know what is happening. This protocol list should end today it is taken away meritocracy from our system, it is breeding corruption”.
The executive director of ILAPPI explained that his decision to picket across the country is to seek a reform that will bring more transparency and equal opportunity for qualified Ghanaian youth.
He said, the current phenomenon of bribery that has characterized public sector recruitment and postings is worrying and distressing to the youth.
He alleged that young graduates desperate to gain employment in the public sector are being extorted huge sums of monies ranging between ghc4000 to Ghc10,000 before being enlisted in the public sector including Police, Military, Immigration, and other institutions.
“There have been allegations of people paying gh5,000 to Ghc10,000 and as low as Ghc2,000 to get employment in the Security services and another public sector such as the Ministries and district Assemblies and this is uncalled for because it takes away meritocracy and brings mediocrity which undermines development and draws back efficiency. So this afternoon I am here to tell the whole country that they should stop selling jobs to individuals who are ready to serve the country”.
Some Ghanaian youth who spoke to mybrytfmonline.com on the streets of Koforidua commended the Executive Director of ILAPPI for the initiative stating that it is a canker adversely affecting the youth in the country.
“I paid GHC3,000.00 and GHC4,000.00 to a police officer for Police and immigration enlistment, for a brother and a sister but the Job did not come and the money also did not come, I reported the officer to the CID headquarters, and I was referred to Pips head office, my statement with evidence was taken, the police officer also confessed in his statement, I was told to go and the issue will be referred to the police HR and I will be called, till date nothing has happened,” one of the youth said.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah