to Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has called for a holistic approach to tackling corruption in Ghana, arguing that the issue extends beyond politicians to the broader society.
He challenged the perception that corruption is primarily a problem among the political class and questioned why discussions on corruption tend to focus exclusively on politicians while ignoring the roles played by other actors, including business entities and society at large.
“My question is very simple. Do we often narrow the issue of corruption and limit it to the political class, or perhaps we have to broaden it and look at it as part of the general life of all of us as a people?” he asked.
Speaking at the 2025 Constitution Day Public Lecture in Accra on Friday, February 28, 2025, the Minority leader explained that governance involves interactions with the private sector, and many complaints about corruption arise from those who fail to secure contracts rather than from an inherent flaw in the political system.
He disclosed that when he was in opposition from 2013 to 2016, he often had businessmen sharing documents with him and encouraging him to speak about corruption on the radio.
“But later on, I realized that those who didn’t get their contracts through were the ones complaining about corruption, while those who succeeded went to church in white to give thanks,” he stated
Afenyo-Markin also stressed how Ghanaian cultural expectations make politicians vulnerable to corruption. He explained that leaders are often pressured to give financial support to traditional authorities, constituents, and religious figures, which can lead them to seek additional resources through questionable means.
“In my constituency, when a chief visits me, he is not interested in my salary. He expects that as he has come, he must not leave empty-handed. A constituent, a pastor—they all expect me to do something,” he said.
According to him, this societal demand forces politicians to find ways to meet expectations, sometimes leading to corrupt practices.
He stated that a holistic approach to tackling corruption requires more than just enacting law, emphasizing that it demands a collective societal commitment to reforming institutions and holding all actors accountable.
He argued that it is not enough to talk about corruption and stressed a collective approach in dealing with it. “If we focus only on the political class, the fight against corruption will remain an uphill battle,” he cautioned.
The MP also raised concerns about the double standards in corruption allegations, arguing that foreign entities seem to face less scrutiny than local businesses. He questioned why Ghanaian entrepreneurs who secure major contracts are often accused of corruption while foreign companies operating under similar conditions are not.
He suggested that some Ghanaians, for this reason, conceal their ownership of businesses, believing that operating under a foreign identity would prevent scrutiny by anti-corruption agencies.
He urged Ghanaians to remain vigilant and committed to eradicating corruption while avoiding selective accountability.
“Let us continue to crack the whip. Let us continue to be hard on the political class but also on other actors in the corruption chain. If we ignore them and focus only on politicians, this fight will remain a headache for our country,” he warned.
The Minority leader shared his personal experiences attempting to implement reforms at the Ghana Water Company, which he chaired. He noted that good initiatives are often resisted by entrenched bureaucracies that benefit from the status quo.
According to him, the same public service machinery is used to fight good initiatives aimed at helping the system, and when a person lacks the needed support, he often gives up.
Afenyo-Markin urged civil society and the media to take a holistic approach in their anti-corruption efforts, ensuring that all stakeholders—including business leaders, bureaucrats, and foreign entities—are held accountable alongside politicians.
