The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has served notice that it will not hesitate to take “drastic measures” against persons, including staff of the Authority, who undermine its reputation.
“The fight against corruption is a collective effort. The Authority observes a firm policy against corrupt practices and would not hesitate to take drastic measures against persons, including staff of the Authority, who undermine its reputation.”
A statement issued by the Authority said they had taken note of the survey on People’s Experiences and Views on corruption in Ghana recently published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in partnership with the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and Ghana Statistical Service, which featured the Authority.
It said NRSA was “highly concerned” about the reputational consequences of the report.
The Authority, therefore, intends to engage the publishers to get further insights into the nature of interviews and evidence, if any, to assist immediate efforts to reverse the negative perception.
It said bribe-taking underlined the bargaining power of public officials whose position of relative power enables them to solicit payment in exchange for the promise of providing a public service, as suggested by the report.
However, the statement said the nature of the Authority’s operations did not ordinarily put their officials in that situation of relative influence.
It said NRSA had noted an identity gap by sections of the public on its personnel and functions that might have influenced the perception.
The statement said the Authority distributed safety materials, including reflective vests branded with “Road Safety” and the Authority’s logo to road safety interest groups.
It said it did appear that the public related all such individuals wearing Road Safety-branded paraphernalia and their conduct to the Authority, which might have influenced “this negative public perception.”
The statement reiterated the commitment of the NRSA to address the negative perception by interrogating the report to influence remedial actions with policy and public support to cure the negative perception.
It said encouraged the public to report any such misconduct through the Road Safety Information Centre by calling 194 on all networks as a whistle-blowing tool.
A Ghana Integrity of Public Services Survey (GIPSS) published recently said Ghana lost approximately GHS5 billion in cash through the payment of bribes to public officials in 2021.
The survey was conducted by the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) in collaboration with the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Apart from the cash payment, which contributed 84.8 per cent of the forms of bribe paid, 13.3 per cent of the bribes paid were food and drinks; 9.7 per cent, exchange for other services; 5 per cent valuables, and 2.2 per cent animals.
The bribes were paid by 33.6 per cent citizens to speed up procedures; 15.8 per cent, as a sign of appreciation; 13.8 per cent, to avoid the payment of fine; 10.8 per cent to avoid problems, and 3.1 per cent, to avoid the cancellation of public utilities.
The survey said that more than a quarter of the country’s adult population (26.7 per cent) paid bribes to a public official in 2021.
It said most of the bribes were paid at the direct request of the public officials involved, as six out of 10 bribes paid (59.4 per cent) were directly requested by those officials.
Findings from the survey showed that the Ghana Police Service, Immigration Service and the Customs officers of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) were the three top institutions which received bribes.
They are followed by the Lands Commission, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Passport Office officials, and prosecutors, judges and magistrates, with elected government officials, being the least recipients.
