An Assessment of Ghana's Corruption Struggle; the Role of Political Parties
Abstract
Political parties play a significant role in the functioning of robust democracies, and consequently, they are held to high expectations, particularly with regards to addressing issues of corruption. In nearly all countries globally, political parties are inherently linked to the issue of corruption due to their role in selecting and electing leaders who govern nations and possess constitutional control over national resources. Therefore, they play a crucial role in either combating corruption or facilitating corruption. In the realm of assessment, Ghana, as a sovereign state since its attainment of independence, has encountered persistent challenges with corruption, which, according to existing evidence, seems to be escalating over time. Nearly every governmental entity is grappling with the pervasive issue of corruption. Furthermore, political parties are frequently perceived as entities that exploit their influential status to solicit bribes, allocate lucrative posts in the public sector to its members and followers, or divert public resources towards the control of party leaders or supporters. Corruption poses significant challenges in developing and transitional nations such as Ghana, where political institutions grapple with many manifestations of corrupt practises. Corruption erodes public trust in governing institutions and poses a significant challenge to the sustainability of democratic systems. In a competitive political context, democratic parties have the capacity to fulfil significant political roles and duties, particularly in combating corruption through many means. Although political parties are frequently associated with corruption, scholarly discussions on corruption and anti-corruption measures have acknowledged that if political parties assume the crucial role of combating corruption, it could result in significant progress. Therefore, this study evaluates the ongoing battle against corruption in Ghana, with a specific focus on the involvement of political parties. Furthermore, the study utilised secondary data for analysis, which informed the subsequent conclusions and recommendations.
References
2. Carr, I. and Outhwaite, O. (2011). The Role of Non-GovernmentalOrganizations (NGOs) in Combating Corruption: Theory and Practice. Suffolk University Review, Vol. XLIV, No. 3, p. 615–664.
3. Heinrich, F., Brown, A. J. (2017). Measuring Accountability and its relevance for anti-corruption: introducing a new integrity system-based measure. Clime Law and Social Change, Vol. 68, p. 359–381.
4. Holloway, R. (2006). NGO Corruption Fighters’ Resource Book – How NGOs can use monitoring and advocacy to fight corruption. Availableat: http://www.sasanet.org/curriculum_final/downlaods/CA/Books%20&%20Articles/ B3%20-%20NGO%20Corruption%20Fighters_resource%20book.pdf [Accessed: November 13, 2017].
5. Moroff, H. and Schmidt-Pfister, D. (2010). Anti-Corruption Movements, Mechanisms, and Machines – an Introduction. Global Crime, Vol. 11, No. 2, p. 89–98.
6. Mungiu-Pippidi, A. (2013). Controlling Corruption through Collective Actions. Journal of Democracy, Vol. 24, No. 1, p. 101–115.
7. Olsson, S. A. (2014). Corruption and Political Participation: A Multilevel Analysis. QoG Working Paper Series. Gothenburg: University of Gothenburg
8. Rothstein, B. and Uslaner, E. M. (2005). All for All: Equality, Corruption, and Social Trust. World Politics, Vol. 58, No. 1, p. 41–72.
9. Edwards, M. (2000). NGO Rights and Responsibilities: A New Deal for Global Governance. (London: The Foreign Policy Centre in Association with NCVO, 2000), 29.
10. Heywood Paul M (ed), Routledge Handbooks of Politica Corruption, New Yor: Routledge, 2015. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315739175
11. Nye, J. S., (1967). “Corruption and Political Development: ACost-Benefit Analysis,”in American Political Science Review 61: 417-427.
12. Jeremy, P. (2003). Strategy to Eradicate Corruption: Elements of a National Integration System. Jakarta: Obor Foundation. 2003
13. Friedrich, Carl J., (2002). “Corruption Concepts in Historical Perspective,”in Heidenheimer,
14. Brett, E. A. (2003). “Participation and Accountability in Development Management,” Journal of Development Studies 40, no. 2 (2003): 1–29;
15. Bernhard, M and Karakoç, E. (2002). “Civil Society and Legacies of Dictatorship,”World Politics 59, no. 4 (2007): 539–67; Marc Morjé Howard, “The Weakness of Post communist Civil Society,” Journal of Democracy 13, no. 1 (2002): 157–69.
16. The World Bank’s Strategy on Governance and Anti-Corruption – a Civil Society Perspective. (2017). A CIDSE Background Paper. Available at: https://www.trocaire.org/sites/default/files/resources/policy/world-bank-governance.pdf [Accessed: August 1, 2023].
17. UN Office of Drugs and Crime, the global programme against corruption: UN anticorruption toolkit. (2004). Available at: http://www.unodc.org/documents/corruption/publications_toolkit_sep04.pdf [Accessed: August 1, 2023].
18. Themudo, N. S. (2013). Reassessing the Impact of Civil Society: Nonprofit Sector, Press Freedom, and Corruption. Synthesis of Lessons Learned of Donor Practices in Fighting Corruption. Governance, Vol. 26, No. 3, p. 63–89.
19. Elliott, K. A. (1997). Corruption as an International Policy Problem: Overview and Recommendations. Corruption and the Global Economy. Washington, DC: Institute for International Economics, p. 175–233.
20. Arnold J. & Johnston, Michael (eds), Political Corruption: A Hand-Book, Third Edition, Transaction Publishers: New Jersey.
21. S. Hickey and G. Mohan. “The Politics of Establishing Pro-Poor Accountability: What can Poverty Reduction Strategies Achieve?”Review of International Political Economy 15, no. 2 (2008): 234–58.
22. Edwards, M. and Hulme, D. (1996). “Too Close for Comfort? The Impact of Official Aid on Nongovernmental Organizations.” World Development 24, no. 6 (1996): 961–73;
23. Mustaq H. Khan, “The Role of Civil Society and Patron-Client Networks in the Analysis of Corruption,” in Corruption and Integrity Improvement Initiatives in Developing Countries, ed. OECD/UNDP. (New York: UNDP, Management Development and Governance Division, 1998).
24. Mainwaring,S (2003). “Introduction,” in Democratic Accountability in Latin America, eds. S. Mainwaring, and C. Welna. (Oxford: Oxford University Press.2003).
25. Schedler, Andreas, Larry Diamond, and Marc F. Plattner (eds.). 1999. The SelfRestraining State: Power and Accountability in New Democracies. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner.8. Great encyclopedic dictionary. V. 1. / Ed. in charge A.M. Prokhorov. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1991. - p. 333.
26. Schedler, Andreas, Larry Diamond, and Marc F. Plattner (eds.). 1999. The SelfRestraining State: Power and Accountability in New Democracies. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner.8. Great encyclopedic dictionary. V. 1. / Ed. in charge A.M. Prokhorov. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1991. - p. 333.
