Former Minister for Finance, Prof. Kwesi Botchwey has tasked government to deal with corruption swiftly if it wants to shed off the tag of being corrupt.

In a lecture delivered Tuesday at the Distinguished Speaker Series organised by the Central University College in Accra, Prof. Botchwey said "high-profile cases of corruption must be dealt with swiftly openly rather than let them drag on".

The consequence of inaction, he said creates "a feeling that everybody in public office is engaged in corruption and money grabbing".

He recalled how he has been victimised by this perception after a man he met at a tennis game branded his car a product of "tax-payer's money".

Although he refrained from specifics, examples of perception of corruption are not hard to come by.

GYEEDA,SADA, SUBAH, judgment debts have shaped the perception, government was doing little to tackle the menace although the President has branded it "mass murder".

Professor Botchwey, who is Ghana's longest serving Finance Minister, said " the surest way to relieve the perception of corruption" is quick action.

Nonetheless, he said people need to "avoid careless whispers and stop filling the air with anecdotal evidence of corruption " that taint the image of people.

He wondered if the problem with the fight against corruption is down to lack of adequate laws or an inability to implement these laws.

He also diagnosed the mood of the nation saying "I see a nation reeling with widespread disaffection; a bit of despair, a popular mood marked by frustration, arising cynisism about any explannation, assuarnces by government and technocrats".