The calculus of corruption: a paradox of ‘strong’ corruption amidst ‘strong’ systems and institutions in developing administrative systems

AuthorEmmanuel Yeboah‐Assiamah,Samuel Alesu‐Dordzi
Published date01 May 2016
Date01 May 2016
DOIhttp://doi.org/10.1002/pa.1576
Academic Paper
The calculus of corruption: a paradox of
strongcorruption amidst strong
systems and institutions in developing
administrative systems
Emmanuel Yeboah-Assiamah
1
*and Samuel Alesu-Dordzi
2
1
School of Public Leadership, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
2
Ghana School of Law, Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana
Without the right political will to battle corruption, systems and institutions are put in place and tend to be façade and
window dressing. Ghana, especially, in the new millennium has seen the proliferation of various institutions ostensi-
bly to curb the phenomenon of corruption, yet its impact has only been marginal. This study adopts two models of
corruption to critically assess the institutional development of Ghana since the Fourth Republican Dispensation
and how these institutions have impacted the ght against corruption. The study adopts mainly secondary data
and resources from the 1992 Republican Constitution, Acts of Parliaments and Legislative Instruments relevant cor-
ruption combat. An analysis of the corruption perception index of Ghana from 2000 to 2014 and other data portrays
poor performance. What accounts for this phenomenon? Are there really demons who obstruct the spirit and letter of
the institutions? Are the systems weak or the human elements (demons) rather stronger in adapting and outsmarting
the institutions? Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
even where there are mechanisms to check corruption,
managers at the various levels of the organization have
their own machinations technicizationto side-step and
trick the system to have their corrupt way through;
people engage in a formidable network to eat upthe
technical quality of systems (Adapted from Jávor &
Jancsics, 2013).
INTRODUCTION
The canker of corruption is not a modern phenomenon
but has been among humans from ancient times
(Hager, 1973). In what appears desperation over the in-
ability to full his zero tolerance for corruption between
2001 and 2008, the former President of Ghana, John
Kufour told his critics that, after all, corruption started
from the days of Adam. It is indeed true that corrup-
tion is not a new development and this view is amply
supported by ancient and medieval political thinkers
who cautioned individuals and rulers not to be caught
in the web. The ancient political thinkers suggested that
discrimination and disparities among people in its var-
ious ramicationsbe it political, juridical or eco-
nomic, combined with human propensity towards
selshnesscreate the condition for corruption (Plato,
1955; Aristotle, 1962). Furthermore, they argue that a la-
tent cause of corruption is the lust for power and mate-
rial wealth, which drives individuals to engage in this
universally condemned act.
Corruption, in its various forms, is more
prevalent in developing societies where their
*Correspondence to: Emmanuel Yeboah-Assiamah, School of
Public Leadership Stellenbosch University,Stellenbosch Campus,
Private Bag X1 Matieland, 7602, South Africa.
E-mail: 19301537@sun.ac.za or yimmanuel@yahoo.com
Journal of Public Affairs
Volume 16 Number 2 pp 203216 (2016)
Published online 25 June 2015 in Wiley Online Library
(www.wileyonlinelibrary.com) DOI: 10.1002/pa.1576
Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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