PSACG presents a policy document on corruption and business in Ghana in Bawumia

Company News of Friday, April 12, 2019

Source: citinewsroom.com

2019-04-12

The Private Sector Anti-Corruption Group (PSACG) presented an orientation report on corruption and business in Ghana to Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia at Jubilee House in Accra.

This is in recognition of his role as chairman of the government's economic management team.

The report highlighted the key challenges faced by local and multinational companies operating in Ghana, which predispose them to corruption, how identified bottlenecks affect their operations, and proposed policy recommendations to address them. these challenges.

The findings were gathered with primary data collected at a Safe Space forum, which allowed more than 30 CEOs of local and multinational companies to share their experiences on the adverse effects of corporate corruption. in Ghana.

Other sources include interviews with key informants of officials from the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, the Ghana Freight Institute, and the Ghana Chamber of Pharmacy.

PSACG acknowledged the efforts of the Government of Ghana to improve the business environment through the implementation of various reform initiatives, including anti-corruption measures, public sector reforms, reduction of the corporate tax burden , an effective regulatory regime for business and improved macroeconomic conditions. other.

However, for them, companies continue to face significant challenges, which in their view are due to a number of systemic and institutional barriers that have resulted in high business costs in the country.

PSACG has therefore taken the initiative to contribute to the government's efforts by bringing together the voices of private sector actors on the consequences of corruption for their operations.

The policy report is structured around key themes that reflect the main causes of corruption in the business community, including inadequate information on the processes and cost of services, multiple regulatory agencies with duplication and overlap.

To help meet these challenges, PSACG has proposed practical recommendations and is committed to supporting the government in the fight against corruption.

Among the main recommendations proposed is the establishment of a national web-based online complaints system to report incompetence and corruption of services.

In addition, PSACG proposes to put in place a clear governance structure in ports to regulate agency relationships and simplify business processes.

At the presentation of the general policy report, the head of the PSACG delegation, Mr. Charles Zwennes, said: "In Ghana, it is clear that the fight against corruption has not been as effective as It was necessary to achieve the desired effect. We must, however, commend the renewed efforts being made by the current government to reduce the impact of canker in order to improve economic efficiency and growth. We recognize, however, that it is essential that these efforts be continued and intensified in order to improve the economic growth and general welfare of the nation, as corruption is the social scourge affecting private sector efforts to building the nation. PSACG is committed to working closely with the government to achieve its eradication. "

Upon receiving the policy report, Dr. Bawumia, Vice President, said, "As decision makers, we want to improve the ease of doing business to improve productivity, efficiency and, overall, create more business." # 39; employment. We have therefore taken the following steps to improve business operations in the country: Port Digitization, DVLA, Pbadport Office, NHIS, Land Registry, GRA, in which private sector companies are committed to improving Financial inclusion through mobile telephony. interoperability with banks and mobile money services, the need for businesses to expand their tax network. "

PSACG will also organize a stakeholder forum with private sector companies to deepen discussions on improving the business climate.

About the Private Sector Anti-Bribery Group (PSACG)

The Private Sector Anti-Corruption Group (PSACG), created in 2018, is a project initiated by the United Kingdom-Ghana Chamber of Commerce (UKGCC) and funded by the STAAC of the UK Department for International Development (DFID). program.

PSACG's main mission is to badist the Government of Ghana, through the Office of the Vice President, to address corruption that affects the cost of doing business and increase investment flows in Ghana.

The British Chamber of Commerce of Ghana (UKGCC) with the support of the heads of chambers of commerce including the Canada-Ghana Chamber of Commerce (CGCC), the European Business Organization (EBO), the Dutch Council of Enterprises and Culture ( GNBCC) and the American The Ghana Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) is at the head of PSACG.

The challenges and recommendations presented by PSACG are listed below:

Key Themes Reflecting the Main Causes of Corruption

I. Inadequate information on processes and cost of services
ii.Several regulatory bodies with duplicate and overlapping functions
iii.Taxes, fees and charges for duplicate services
iv.Several law enforcement agencies with various regulatory functions in ports
v. Lack or inadequate means of reporting corruption
Financing of political parties

PSACG recommendations

I. Provide regular updates on service release, delivery times, website service costs, and service provider signage tables; as well as adopting mobile applications and other digital applications for effective dissemination of information in all service delivery agencies.

ii. Establish a clear governance structure in ports to regulate inter-agency relations and streamline business processes

iii. Accelerate action on the recommendations of the Port Royalty and Levies Committee and establish similar committees to review fees in other areas

iv. Organize cross-sectoral and intersectoral national review of agencies and their enabling legislation to remove regulatory redundancies and functional overlaps that impede business growth.

v. Ensure effective coordination of all security agencies operating in the ports, monitor the activities of port security officers under video surveillance and apply quick and burdensome sanctions to officers convicted of corruption

vi. Set up a national phone line to report cases of corruption, clarify the appeal procedures for the settlement of corruption complaints, institute a mandatory annual ethics training for all officials, make sure that the Parliament adopt the draft law on the code of ethics of public officials and instruct the CHRAJ to prepare a separate report. annual report on corruption in the administrative agencies to the presidency.

vii. Examine the feasibility of public financing of political parties by the state, including the possibility of providing the electoral commission with resources to hold internal elections for political parties, as well as to revise the funding rules for political parties the campaign to reduce the cost of elections.