The former Rector of GIMPA, Professor Stephen Adei has bemoaned the state of corruption in Ghana noting that people hide behind privileges to be corrupt.
The tough talking entrepreneur made the observation in a speech he delivered as the guest speaker on the occasion of the 9th Congregation of the Presbyterian University College, Ghana held on the 5th of December 2015 at Kwahu Abetifi.
He cautioned without recourse to the threat of offending Parliamentary privileges that when it comes to corruption, when leaders are challenged about it, they cannot hide behind any privilege, be it Executive, Parliamentary or Ecclesiastical.
“The constitution in spirit gives nobody, and I want to underscore, nobody, the privilege to be corrupt!” he emphasized to a thunderous applause from the graduands and the gathering.
Prof. Stephen Adei chastised politicians attitude towards fighting corruption accusing them that they only come to power to “find, loot and share” state resources.
But he charged the graduands to become positive agent of change. “If you think Ghana needs better leaders aim to be one and not join the ‘find, look and share’ class of politicians”, Prof. Addae told the graduands.
He said he had no doubt that the slow progress of Ghana’s development is the result of the poor quality of national leadership for which has in turn had negative consequences on bureaucratic corruption and efficiency.
For Ghana to deal decisively with corruption, he argued that “If the leadership are themselves not corrupt, they must set up independent and autonomous anti-corruption agency with prosecuting powers instead of what appears to be a constitutionally allowed way to pervert justice through Presidential Commissions”.
Speaking on the theme “Leaders for development: the role of mission-based institutions,” Professor Stephen Adei charged the Mission-Based tertiary institutions to provide the kind of training needed to develop legacy building leaders with Christ-like character to transform the economic fortunes of this country.
According to him, the Mission-Based tertiary institutions are better placed to channel the character formation of students which is critical to sustainable national development and not “leave it to general culture, family upbringing and religious groups which are week in Ghana today”, he stated.
He said quality academic training requires deliberate inclusion of leadership training in our programmes as well as entrepreneurship orientation which produces business leaders.
The University has lined up the following programmes for the 2016/2017 academic year upon affiliation and accreditation: Doctor of Optometry, Law, BSc. Acturial Science, BSc. Computer Engineering, Education (both Graduate and Undergraduate), Graduate programmes in International Development, Natural Resource Management, Information Management and Education Technology.