Corrupt, Inefficient State Institutions

For many years now, Africa has been observed to be lacking behind in development progress and advancement.Socio-economic development has come to a standstill, coupled with bad governance, lawlessness, social and economic crisis,inspite of the riches of the continent for the past 50years. The long period of military regimes is another cause of this problem, a legacy left by these regimes.Hence the current wind blowing across the globe, is the demand for good governance,fight against corruption, democracy and education for all, which are the basic criteria for receiving full financial and material support and assistance from the industrial countries and world financial bodies. The absence of these factors have been the major causes retarding Africa's development progress, since the first political leaders were ousted during the cold war. It is the canker of greed, corruption, dictatorship and lawlessness coupled with ignorance, that set and continue to set Africa back in development progress. For many years now, critics and experts on Africa have blamed solely politicians for Africa's underdevelopment,without critically looking at auxiliary causes or accomplices in bad governance. Institutions of state are the arms of government mandated to implement and administer government programs and policies, monitor and supervise the proper executions of these programs, projects, application of rules and regulations to achieve desired results.In Ghana, these institutions of state, which were once very active and efficient, immediately after independence, with patriotic,nationalistic and committed civil and public servants, became gradually uncommitted, corrupt, inefficient and passive, after the ousted of the first republic by inexperienced military administrators. These military administrators focused only on areas they could make personal wealth to the neglect of moral and civil values, discipline, patriotism and standard norms. They instead, created avenues for the growth of corruption, nepotism in the public sector, resulting in social disorder, apathy and lawlessness to this day, a legacy the present civilian administrations are grappling with.The government institutions and agencies mandated to implement and administer state programs and policies, have gradually sank into corruption, mismanagement and apathy to this day.They are a major contributing cause to the setback and lack in development progress in Ghana. But the truth of the matter is that, for many years now, since the overthrow of the first republic, these institutions of state have become so corrupt and inefficient that, instead of being catalysts to good governance, they have rather become thorns in the flesh of good governance, hence retarding development progress in Ghana to this day. These institutions of state are also refered to as gold mines for civil and public servants in Ghana and for that matter Africa as a whole. In Ghana, these state institutions have failed the people in the course of good governance and development for many years now, since the ousted of the first republic under military regimes up to this times of civilian administrations. They are not in anyway committed to change despite fruitless efforts to restructure and re-orientate the civil and public service in line with current demands for accelerated development progress by successive civilian administrations in the 4th republic.Very important institutions like the Town and Country Planning Commission, Town and City Engineers' offices, the Assemblies, Lands Commission etc, which are supposed to manage the proper building and development regulations in the towns and cities are so corrupt and ineffective that, our towns and cities are in a mess and chaos without a dint of beauty or picturesque instinct. Buildings and structures are put up anywhere, even on waterways, proposed roads and community parks, school lands and many other violations of planning laws under the very eyes of officials and with approval from these same institutions in charge.An aerial view of Accra and the other cities in Ghana reveals to you how scramble and chaotic our cities are, without planning and beauty. The filth and sanitation situation is a mess resulting in unhygienic and stinking environment. The utility service providers, like water and sewage company, Electricity company,etc, are corrupt and inefficient in their delivery services, with a lot of malfeasants and wastage around .We see many illegal connections and disparities in billing systems, power and water distributions, which are mostly compromised by workers with customers is common.These service providers are also very wasteful. An inspection around the cities and the countryside reveals real wastage of materials lying around unprotected to the mercy of the weather, theft and fire for many years. Leakages and spills of water is very common, especially in Accra city. Shoddy work is another negative culture of workers of state institutions costing the government more and double on projects and programs. We see abandoned manholes and trenches scattered around the cities causing dangers to the public and defacing the beauty designs of our roads.We have the roads and highways, where shoddy works and dishonesty is compromised , resulting in early deterioration of roads and abandoned unfinished roads scattered around the country. The police service is worst in terms of security and human right of the citizen. The service is so corrupt that, the poor ordinary citizen and the public as a whole have no confidence in it.The police -public relationship is for many years now at zero point.The people allege, ''the police is there for the rich and priveldged alone. 'Dare report a case to the police, when you have no money and you regret it'', they say.Custom and Migration services are the same with corruption and compromises at the ports and borders of the country. The judicial service is another public institution in which the people have lost confidence. Here too, favoritism, protectionism and perversion of justice is common and the most victims being ordinary poor people. Real culprits with connections and money are left to walk the streets with their chest out. Here again we experience the culture of 'Class society and Whom you know still reigning high. '' We have cases where innocent suspects are still thrown behind bars. But a member of organized crime is seldom arrested. If arrested, he is rarely indicted.If indicted, rarely brought to trial. If tried, rarely convicted. If convicted, rarely imprisoned. If imprisoned, quickly released,''unquote by John RaffertyThis is the so called ''Rule of Law'' prevailing in Ghana and for that matter Africa, where criminals and culprits with political connections are set free. The Civil service, which is the sector administrators of government policies is not an Angel.Here too, there are a lot of waste and negative attitude towards work and the public.Deliberate delays in communications, documentations and actions create room for corruption, a strategy common in these offices. All in all, state institutions and the public sector , as a whole are one major cause of Ghana's underdevelopment, progress stagnation,and bad governance. These state institutions and agencies have become gold mines for government officials and public servants, who have also become lords, who expect to be kotowed, before rendering service, when they are there to serve the people.Finally, it can be concluded that, government officials and public servants of state institutions have for many years now been a thorn in the flesh of good governance and developmen against the people of Ghana. I write you the truth, politicians, public servants and for that matter technocrats and educated professionals are the causes of the woes of underdevelopment in Ghana. Their commitment to nationalism and patriotism faded out since the first republic.Today, they have become greedy, dishonest, one way or the other,corrupt,unpatriotic,apathetic, unproductive and passive. They have failed to help sincerely, successive governments to accelerate policies and programs to achieve desired results, but rather exploit mistakes and loopholes to enrich themselves.Their focus on enriching themselves has caused them to loose foresight, lack innovation and creativity, hence the progress stagnation and lawlessness we are in for many years now. The failure of politicians to fire public servants and cronies, who commit serious offense, fraud and embezzlement and who do not perform well, because of their unholy alliance of -''scratch my back- I scratch your back,'' is a negative sign of mistrust, failure and abuse of office by government officials in the eyes of the public.Finally, finally, I write you the truth, no government will succeed in its development programs and policies, if politicians, civil and public servants do not commit themselves sincerely to nationalism and patriotism, honesty and selfless character to help and support government in power, to accelerate growth and development to achieve desired results to move the nation forward. Our professionals and technocrats should strive to achieve excellence and not being satisfied with mediocrity when in priveldged positions, because of greed. I write you the truth, ''Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man soweth , that shall he also reap.''Gal.6:7