The Danish Ambassador to Ghana, Tove Degnbol, has revealed that a number of Danish investors seeking to do business in the country have had to rescind their decision due to bribery demands by officials of government agencies whose job is to facilitate such investments.
Speaking at a business meeting with selected entities which have Danish ties Ms. Degnbol said the development is troubling as Danish companies are generally celebrated for their heavy anti-corruption stance.
“Danish companies are reporting that they often find it difficult to do business in Ghana because they are confronted with requests for illegal payment of services or ‘facilitation money’. At the Embassy, we are proud when companies tell us that they would rather lose an order than become involved in the endless game of paying and being required to pay even more.
Together with a group of Danish companies and their Ghanaian partners we have recently embarked upon an exercise to map out the situations where the risk of corruption is experienced to be large. We do so with a view to engage relevant authorities in a dialogue on how best corruption can be curbed,” the Ambassador said.
According to Ms. Degnbol, the high incidence of corruption has led to the Danish Embassy working on an anti-corruption policy that will allow businesses to work in a safe environment.
“We are trying to map where some of these things happen. We are anonymous because we are not trying to highlight a particular case. But we are trying to see if it is the customs clearing in the harbor, the public offices when you are trying to apply for say driver’s license or somewhere else. And we will be using these mapping where we see bribery and corruption taking place in our policy dialogue with the government, which will be used to develop initiatives to battle corruption.”
Danish anti-corruption example
According to Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, which provides an indication of the extent of corruption in 176 countries as perceived by business people and experts, Denmark has ranked first as the least corrupt country every year during the past 10 years, with two exceptions being the years 2011 and 2009.
During the same years, Ghana has been moving a bit up and down the ranking, between 61 to 69. From an improved position of 56 in 2015, Ghana’s ranking worsened to 70 in 2016.
“When my predecessor and I counted the silverware in the residence as part of the handing over, one of the small teaspoons could not be found. My predecessor immediately reported the case to Copenhagen and offered to pay with her own means for the missing teaspoon,” the Danish Ambassador said, to underscore the legendary Danish anti-corruption attitude.
“I do not think that the human nature differs much across countries, and when we see large deviations in the extent of corruption across countries, it mainly reflects differences in institutions, traditions, mechanisms for accountability, and not least in the degree of transparency,” noted said.
Source: B&FT
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Danish Ambassador, we know you are Saints. Pack your stuff and leave our country wwe will correct oir mistakes and the tables will turn. We don't disagree that there are corrupt officials here but are you the only country in the world?
The Ambassador, Her Business People And Her Country Denmark Are ***barred word***. What Is Her High Commission Still Doing In Ghana, Why Won't They Pick Up, Pack Up, Lock Up Their Embassy, Go And Do Business At Their Non-Corrupt Nation???????!
Well, Madam, thank you for your candid exposure. It is an open secret in GH that most of our people are corrupt. In fact, in all spheres of our national life. You cannot exonerate anybody-chiefs, religious leaders, drivers, artisans, shop owners, police, army, politicians, civil servants, every tom, ***barred word*** and harry. But Madam, please you can help us by exposing our people who save such 'stolen' money in banks in your country, send the money back to GH. I think that can help check corruption in a way. Corrupt people will not have anywhere to hide their booty.
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That is what happens when instead of decoloring corruption and fighting it, people make it their song and sing it all day long. You may think you are hurting one political party but no you have just given the wrong picture of your country and these are the repercussions. Parties have changed battons but development partners cannot be deceived, corruption if in the very fabric of the Ghanaian- from the chief, to the priest, to the MP to the headteacher/ headmaster, to the director, to thechief director, to the police, the immigration officer... name them. Nana Addo or Mahama cannot be everywhere and that is the real challenge. Asemsebe
WHAT CAN YOU SAY !!!!!!;the truth is that it is this same Western donors or investors who perpetuate these corruption amongst Ghanaians ; if they put strict conditions to these loans and properly scrutinise these contracts ;loans and grants they can at least do somthing about this but the truth is that the systems internally are very weak and allows officials to perpetuate these acts ; if officers are charged and jailed this will stop the corruption and steeling ; Jon mahama was himself involved and encouraged corruption and protected the NDC ; Nana Addo if he wishes to retain his reputation should take action NOW !!!!!!!; otherwise he will fall by the way side like Jon Mahama ; Nana Addo is our last chance if he fails Ghana is DOOOMED !!!!!!.
May be we need colonialism back its clear we just cannot managed our self. shame
Hmmm, when will GH reach half of this standard. What about we starting with civil/public servants who facitate all these acts, and stop running quickly to mention politicians. Yes, I know they are part .
The woman has said it all. I know truth hurt. She couldn't have said it better than this. As long as some govt official continue to demand bribes, foreign countries will also continue to tag Ghana as corrupt nation. Attitudinal change will do us good as a nation.
Western countries must stop giving aid to Africa . It all gets stolen or ended up in Western banks. Ghanaian politicians are so corrupt and ***barred word*** to the extent that it becomes mind boggling. With all their holier than thou attitude, they don't do the right things and are always ready to steal from the public purse. Why? When are they going to change? From NDC to NPP, these guys are all ***barred word*** and corrupt. Africa is indeed in big trouble because we lack serious politicians who will turn things around. Even countries without any natural resources like Thailand and Malaysia have prospered ahead of mineral rich Ghana. What is the problem?