Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has called on Ghanaians to unite against corruption which he says drains billions from the country and deepens poverty every day.
Speaking at the Governance and Anti-Corruption Summit hosted by the Bright Future Alliance, Bagbin did not mince words about the devastating impact of graft on the nation’s development.
He revealed that Ghana loses billions of dollars every year through corruption, tax evasion, and illegal financial flows.
He cited examples like the US$12 million paid for the Pwalugu Multi-Purpose Dam, which remains untouched; money he says could have transformed lives if used properly.
“Millions of cedis are lost daily. This money should be building schools, hospitals, and roads but instead it lines the pockets of a few,” he said, highlighting how corruption hits the poor the hardest and widens inequality.
Bagbin called for more robust civic engagement and institutional reforms. He praised Parliament’s steps to boost transparency, including the creation of the Departments of Public Engagement and the Citizen’s Bureau to encourage greater oversight. But he made it clear that fighting corruption must go beyond policies.
“It starts in our homes, our schools, our communities,” he said, adding that young people must grow up valuing honesty and integrity.
He announced the launch of the National Integrity Award Scheme to reward ethical behavior and inspire a culture of accountability.
In his final message, the Speaker challenged Ghanaian youth to see themselves as leaders in the anti-corruption fight, stressing that only collective action can free the country from the grip of graft.
“Together, we must break these chains,” he urged.
