The report stated that 62 percent of Ghanaians feel that people are “often” or “always” treated unequally under the law.

Also, 67 percent of Ghanaians believe that officials who commit crimes are “somewhat” or “very” likely to go unpunished.

The skepticism with the Rule of Law extends to how the rich are handled, as 83 percent of Ghanaians believe that the rich are likely to be able to pay bribes or use personal connections to avoid going to court.

Aside from this, 84 and 88 percent of Ghanaians respectively believe that the rich avoid paying taxes and register land that does not belong to them.

Despite highlighting the perceived failings of the rule of law, the report indicated that Ghanaians strongly endorse rule of law.

“Most Ghanaians endorse the rule of law and the legitimacy of key state enforcement bodies, affirming that the rule of law should and in fact does anchor democratic practices in the country.

Even so, there is a widespread and growing belief that inequalities exist in how laws are applied, with the unfair advantage given to officials and the wealthy,” the report said.

The full report can be viewed here

About the report

Afrobarometer is a pan-African, non-partisan research network that conducts public attitude surveys on democracy, governance, economic conditions, and related issues across more than 35 countries in Africa. Six rounds of surveys were conducted between 1999 and 2015, and Round 7 surveys (2016/2018) are currently underway. Afrobarometer conducts face-to-face interviews in the language of the respondent’s choice with nationally representative samples.

The Afrobarometer team in Ghana, led by the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), interviewed 2,400 adult Ghanaians between September 9 and 25, 2017. A sample of this size yields results with a margin of error of +/-2% at a 95% confidence level. Previous surveys have been conducted in Ghana in 1999, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2012, and 2014.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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This number rises to 39 percent for residents in the Upper West and Northern Regions, the report (which can be viewed here) stated.

But on the whole, 81 percent of Ghanaians are of the view that citizens must always rely on police to deal with suspected criminals.

Ghana’s problem with mob justice was firmly in the spotlight in 2017 a when an officer of the 5th Infantry Battalion, Major Maxwell Mahama, was killed by a mob on his daily jogging routine in May 2017, when he was suspected of being an armed robber.

Observers have described the phenomenon of mob justice in Ghana as a manifestation of citizens frustrations with the justices system.

Political Party vigilantism

On the issue of political vigilantism, 88 percent of Ghanaians believe it is “wrong and punishable” for party vigilantes to attack government appointees whose appointment they disagree with.

Fifty-three (53) percent of Ghanaians said the government performed “fairly well” or “very well” in handling the criminal activities of political-party vigilante groups.

The past 13 months have seen consistent attacks on various state institutions by aggrieved New Patriotic Party youth groups.

The President was recently compelled to suspend the Upper West Regional Minister, Sulemana Alhassan, over reports he obstructed the course of justice after some NPP youth besieged the offices of the Upper West Regional National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), and assaulted the Regional Director’s aide.

The suspension is likely to sit well with most Ghanaians as almost nine of 10 Ghanaians, representing 88 percent “approve” or “strongly approve” of the government prosecuting and punishing political-party vigilantes who engage in acts of lawlessness.

About the report

Afrobarometer is a pan-African, non-partisan research network that conducts public attitude surveys on democracy, governance, economic conditions, and related issues across more than 35 countries in Africa. Six rounds of surveys were conducted between 1999 and 2015, and Round 7 surveys (2016/2018) are currently underway. Afrobarometer conducts face-to-face interviews in the language of the respondent’s choice with nationally representative samples.

The Afrobarometer team in Ghana, led by the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), interviewed 2,400 adult Ghanaians between September 9 and 25, 2017. A sample of this size yields results with a margin of error of +/-2% at a 95% confidence level. Previous surveys have been conducted in Ghana in 1999, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2012, and 2014.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The report stated that, 50 percent of the respondents believe “some” of the officials at the Flagstaff House are corrupt,  while 11 percent of respondents believe none of them are.

[contextly_sidebar id=”pqGBUumtZYPOzH07JdLYWPWzhzFmczSO”]According to Afrobarometer, their team in Ghana interviewed 2,400 adult Ghanaians between September 9 and 25, 2017.

The Round 7 report launched by the CDD on Tuesday, which studied the perception of corruption about officials and personalities in the public and private sector,  also indicates that 59 percent of Ghanaians believe all or most police officers are corrupt.

Only three percent of the respondents believed that no police officer has engaged in acts of corruption.

“Six in 10 Ghanaians (59%), say most or all police officials are corrupt, and substantial proportions say the same about judges and magistrates (38%), national government officials (35%), and other public leaders. Perceptions of corruption in the private sector are somewhat lower,” the report said.

The figure is slightly lower for judges and magistrates with 38 percent of Ghanaians believing that all or most judges are corrupt.

32 percent of Ghanaians believe that all or most Members of Parliament are corrupt, while 31 percent of the respondents held the same view for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).

Traditional and Religious leaders were also named in the report, with 28 percent of respondents perceiving the former to be corrupt, while 17 percent perceive most or all religious leaders as corrupt.

Name, shame and prosecute corrupt officials 

The report also revealed that, most Ghanaians want stiffer punishments for officials who are found to have engaged in corruption.

64℅ of the respondents called on the government to name, shame and prosecute officials who have misappropriated state funds.

The survey also indicated that, Ghanaians want the government to recover funds which were pocketed by these state officials.

‘Gov’t can deal with corruption’

In the 2014 Afrobarometer report,  64 percent of respondents thought that corruption had increased.

The report also said 20 percent of Ghanaians did not believe in the capability of the political system to fight corruption.

However, in the new report, most Ghanaians have expressed increased confidence in the government’s ability to fight corruption.

“There is a rise in public confidence in government’s efforts to combat corruption in 2017, compared to 2014. This is after over a decade of decline,” the report added.

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By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post 27% of Ghanaians think Presidents, staffers are corrupt – Report appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

In the 2014 Afrobarometer report,  64 percent of respondents in the survey conducted by Afrobarometer thought that corruption had increased.

[contextly_sidebar id=”DL1KGQd9q4uEZV5lPsH11K6iM4JZrrO7″]The Round 7 report launched by the Center for Democratic Development (CDD also said 20 percent of Ghanaians did not believe in the capability of the political system at the time, to fight corruption.

However, in the new report, most Ghanaians have expressed increased confidence in the government’s anti-corruption efforts.

“There is a rise in public confidence in government’s efforts to combat corruption in 2017, compared to 2014. This is after over a decade of decline,” the report said.

‘Name, shame and prosecute corrupt officials’

According to the research group,  64℅ of Ghanaians want the government to name, shame and prosecute officials who have misappropriated state funds.

It also stated that most Ghanaians want the government to recover funds which were pocketed by these state officials.

According to the report, successive governments had only demonstrated the eagerness to prosecute members of opposition parties who had served in past administrations, while ignoring corrupt practices perpetrated by its own members.

The report cited a number of corruption-related allegations that have come under the spotlight this year, including claims made by musician, A-Plus accusing President Akufo-Addo’s two Deputy Chiefs of Staff, Francis Asenso-Boakye, and Abu Jinapor of corruption.

“Most Ghanaians perceive some informal leaders, public and private sector officials as corrupt. The perception is worse for officials in the public sector,” the report said.

“Most Ghanaians think that governments over the years have been very swift in prosecuting and punishing corrupt officials belonging to opposition parties. nevertheless, majority believe the current government performed well in fighting corruption.”

Special Prosecutor’s Office good to go’

Parliament passed the Office of the Special Prosecutor Bill after its third reading earlier in November, and will become operational in 2018.

The setting up of the office of the Special Prosecutor, was one of the key campaign promises made by President Nana Akufo-Addo ahead of his election victory in 2016, and it is aimed at tackling corruption.

When operational, the Special Prosecutor’s office will be independent of the Executive, which observers believe will allow it to adequately deal with corruption-related issues which have plagued past governments.

Concerns have been raised by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), that the Special Prosecutor will still be a tool for targeting the opposition.

NDC MP and the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Inusah Fuseini, said the Office of the Special Prosecutor was open to abuse.

“We have always had that fear. The Minority has always had the fear that this office can be used to witch-hunt political opponents,” Inusah Fuseini said to Citi News.

However, President, Nana Akufo-Addo dismissed those fears, stating that the Special Prosecutor’s Office will not be used to witch-hunt opposition party members.

He stated that the office would be independent of executive influence in order for it to function efficiently.

“We have crafted this creature who will be independent of the executive, would not have to take instructions from the Attorney General, would not have to take instruction from the President, and will decide for themselves who to prosecute and who not to prosecute.”

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By: Sixtus Dong-Ullo & Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Ghanaians more confident Gov’t can fight corruption – Report appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Round 7 report launched by the Center for Democratic Development (CDD), also indicated that, most Ghanaians want the government to recover funds which were pocketed by these state officials.

[contextly_sidebar id=”gRvlhKj4cRrSLDKYXWwFsMJ8UU66fPph”]According to the report, successive governments had only demonstrated the eagerness to prosecute members of opposition parties who had served in past administrations, while ignoring corrupt practices perpetrated by its own members.

The report cited a number of corruption-related allegations that have come under the spotlight this year, including claims made by musician, A-Plus accusing President Akufo-Addo’s two Deputy Chiefs of Staff, Francis Asenso-Boakye, and Abu Jinapor of corruption.

“Most Ghanaians perceive some informal leaders, public and private sector officials as corrupt. The perception is worse for officials in the public sector,” the report said.

“Most Ghanaians think that governments over the years have been very swift in prosecuting and punishing corrupt officials belonging to opposition parties. nevertheless, majority believe the current government performed well in fighting corruption.”

‘Gov’t can deal with corruption’

In the 2014 Afrobarometer report,  64 percent of respondents thought that corruption had increased.

The report also said 20 percent of Ghanaians did not believe in the capability of the political system to fight corruption.

However, in the new report, most Ghanaians have expressed increased confidence in the government’s ability to fight corruption.

“There is a rise in public confidence in government’s efforts to combat corruption in 2017, compared to 2014. This is after over a decade of decline,” the report added.

‘Special Prosecutor’s Office good to go’

Parliament passed the Office of the Special Prosecutor Bill after its third reading earlier in November, and will become operational in 2018.

The setting up of the office of the Special Prosecutor, was one of the key campaign promises made by President Nana Akufo-Addo ahead of his election victory in 2016, and it is aimed at tackling corruption.

When operational, the Special Prosecutor’s office will be independent of the Executive, which observers believe will allow it to adequately deal with corruption-related issues which have plagued past governments.

Concerns have been raised by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), that the Special Prosecutor will still be a tool for targeting the opposition.

NDC MP and the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Inusah Fuseini, said the Office of the Special Prosecutor was open to abuse.

“We have always had that fear. The Minority has always had the fear that this office can be used to witch-hunt political opponents,” Inusah Fuseini said to Citi News.

However, President, Nana Akufo-Addo dismissed those fears, stating that the Special Prosecutor’s Office will not be used to witch-hunt opposition party members.

He stated that the office would be independent of executive influence in order for it to function efficiently.

“We have crafted this creature who will be independent of the executive, would not have to take instructions from the Attorney General, would not have to take instruction from the President, and will decide for themselves who to prosecute and who not to prosecute.”

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By: Sixtus Dong-Ullo & Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post 64% of Ghanaians want Gov’t to prosecute corrupt officials – Afrobarometer appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Index, which seeks to assess the performance of various countries by measuring the extent to which they meet the expectations of citizens politically, socially and economically showed Ghana had experience a decline over the last ten years in three of four key indicators.

This year’s release which featured 54 African countries was released by Mohammed Ibrahim, the Chairman of the Mo Ibrahim foundation on Monday.

‘Governance’

The report rated Ghana 7^th on the overall performance in governance. The country scored 63.9 out of 100 for the year under review.
It emphasized that although Ghana could be listed among the top ten performing countries in terms of overall governance in 2015, the country ranked the 8^th most deteriorated over the past decade.

‘Human rights’

On human right indicator. Ghana was ranked 4th out of the 54 countries, recording a score of 73.1 out of 100 in 2015 representing a marginal increase of 0.1 between 2006 and 2016.

 ‘Sustainable Economic Opportunity’

According to the report, there was a slight improvement in the sustainable Economic Opportunity (+1.8) across the continent. However, it remains the lowest scoring category in 2015, achieving an African average score of 42.9 points.

For Ghana, it recorded a score of 39.1 but the decade trend reveals a decline of 4.2. The country was placed 15^th.

‘Safety and rule of law’

On Safety and Rule of Law, Ghana placed 6^th but was ranked 14^th, 23^rd, 11^th and 5^th in the sub-categories of Rule of Law, accountability personal safety and national security respectively.

A statement accompanying the release of the report said: “The tenth edition of the IIAG, the most comprehensive analysis of African governance undertaken to date, brings together a decade of data to assess each of Africa’s 54 countries against 95 indicators drawn from 34 independent sources.”

It added that, ‘’this year, for the first time, the IIAG includes Public Attitude Survey data from Afrobarometer. This captures Africans’ own perceptions of governance, which provide fresh perspective on the results registered by other data such expert assessment and official data.”

“Over the last decade, overall governance has improved by one score point at the continental average level, with 37 countries – home to 70% of African citizens – registering progress. This overall positive trend has been led mainly by improvement in Human Development and Participation & Human Rights. Sustainable Economic Opportunity also registered an improvement, but at a slower pace.

“However, these positive trends stand in contrast to a pronounced and concerning drop in Safety & Rule of Law, for which 33 out of the 54 African countries – home to almost two-thirds of the continent’s population – have experienced a decline since 2006, 15 of them quite substantially,” the report also noted.

Read the full report here.

‘No winner for Mo Ibrahim Prize for fifth time’

The Mo Ibrahim foundation in June this year announced that there will be no winner of the 2015 Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership for the fifth time.

The foundation announced that no African leader will benefit from the US$5 million prize money rewarding outstanding leadership and commitment to democracy.

The Foundation has awarded only four leaders since its launched in 2006; President Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia (2014), President Pedro Pires of Cabo Verde (2011), President Festus Mogae of Botswana (2008), and President Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique (2007).

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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