The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, has urged religious leaders to collaborate with his office in the battle against corruption.
This appeal comes as Ghana finds itself stuck in the same position on the Corruption Perception Index (CPI), indicating a lack of progress in combating corruption.
Mr. Agyebeng highlighted the potential impact of involving clerics in anti-corruption efforts, given their influential roles in society. He emphasized that their participation could lead to significant improvements.
Ghana’s CPI score for 2023 stood at 43 out of 100, placing the country 70th out of 180 nations and territories. This marks the fourth consecutive year of no improvement, according to Transparency International (TI).
Alarmingly, several Sub-Saharan African countries with stagnant scores experienced subsequent declines in the following years, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
Addressing the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council Conference of Heads of Churches and Organizations on February 15, 2024, Mr. Agyebeng called upon church leaders to utilize their platforms and influence to condemn corrupt practices.
He posed a critical question, asking why a country where 71 percent of the population identifies as Christian still grapples with corruption.
He noted that while the solution to corruption is known, it is often avoided due to its difficulty.
Furthermore, Mr. Agyebeng urged religious leaders to actively engage in the fight against corruption. He stressed the need for increased attention to the issue and encouraged them to publicly denounce corrupt activities and draw explicit connections between corruption and behaviors deemed unchristian.
“We need greater attention on this one. If the representatives of God among us actively take on the corruption fight, we’ll attain remarkable heights. So please join us, by publicly calling corrupt activities. Please join us in making explicit linkages between corruptions and the vices we decry as unchristian in fervent defence of the state.”
