The Ghana Sociological and Anthropology Association (GSAA) has sounded alarm on the pervasive corruption in state institutions, warning that it is eroding public trust and confidence in the country’s governance system.
At the 8th Sociological and Anthropological Conference in Kumasi, the GSAA expressed deep concern over the widespread corruption in various state institutions, including the judiciary, law enforcement agencies, and public service departments.
According to the GSAA, corruption in state institutions has become a major obstacle to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which Ghana has committed to achieving by 2030.
Addressing the 8th conference of the association, guest speaker, Professor Kofi Osei Akuoko, indicated the numerous cases of bribery, embezzlement, and nepotism in public institutions undermines public confidence.
“Corruption in institutions undermining poverty alleviation; health and education that is SDG’s 1,3 and 4” he indicated.
Prof. Akuoko observed institutions of state charged to deal with issues of corruption are under-resourced.
He called for bold steps to tackle corruption.
“Institutions established to combat corruption such as CHRAJ and the OSP have not been immune to allegations of corruption due to political interference. This weakens the National fight against corruption” he added
President of the GSAA, William Boateng added that measure must be put in place to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
“Sustainable development goals are goals that universally have been put on grounds that all countries are expected to work towards attaining.”
“As social workers we deem it important to interrogate what we are doing as a country to attain these goals” he said.
The 8th Conference of the Association was under the theme “Sociological and Anthropological Discourse on Sustainable Development Goals”.