Corruption is as old as the first human – Kufuor

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has restated his long-held belief that corruption is not a modern invention but an age-old human flaw.

Speaking in a video message played during the National Dialogue on Lifestyle Audit in Accra, he described corruption as a condition that has existed since the very first human being.

Kufuor explained that corruption takes many forms and is rooted in human behaviour. He noted that society often discusses the problem without truly confronting its causes.

In his view, the nation has struggled because it has not taken the time to properly study the issue in order to identify what drives it and why it continues to grow.

“It should be obvious to you. If you talk about corruption, you are talking about decay. If you are talking of grabbing or stealing what is not yours, cheating, they all go into corruption,” he said.

He argued that Ghana’s abundance of resources and talent should have positioned the country better. Instead, he believes weak systems and the failure to manage national wealth have contributed to a culture where corrupt practices have become widespread.

At the same event, PricewaterhouseCoopers partner George Arhin shared insights on why corruption thrives. He explained that when opportunities, threats and rationalisation converge, people are more likely to commit fraud.

He said these factors should guide lifestyle audits, which he described as an essential tool for protecting public resources.

Arhin added that Ghana needs a clear legal framework to ensure lifestyle audits are effective and backed by consequences that can deter wrongdoing.

The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, has also renewed calls for constitutional reforms that would make lifestyle audits and asset seizures possible even without a criminal conviction.

He believes this approach would help curb illicit wealth more quickly and protect the public purse.