Enforce law allows for unexplained wealth to be questioned – Prof Adei

Chairperson of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has charged government to enforce the law when it comes to unexplained wealth.

Emeritus Professor Stephen Adei said the laws have to be changed in relation to the approach in dealing with corrupt officials.

“In Singapore and other countries, if you have a certain lifestyle, which cannot be explained by your income, our laws should allow you to be questioned,” he told Benjamin Akakpo on AM Show, Monday.

He said although it is stated in our laws that the unexplained wealth of people in authority should be questioned, that law has to be implemented.

The Emeritus Professor of Ashesi University said that the level of corruption in the country is not something to write home about.

Saying that, it is politicians who are always the target.

Using the theory of a leaking basket, he said that money cannot be poured continuously into a basket where there is a potential leakage.

The Economist said that one of the reasons why corruption is a challenge to eradicate is because “our political system is such that, as soon as you start fighting corruption, your government would be accused of being corrupt.”

He added that the more corruptive behaviours are exposed and dealt with, the more government in power is accused by the media, as well as the opposition party.

“They don’t see that actually, when you [the current government] want to effectively fight corruption, there would be more corruption exposé, exposing corruption. So there’s a paradox.”

Further expounding on the topic of corruption, he said that the issue of corruption is a reality which has become an endemic.

“It is almost becoming part of our culture,” he said.