The Member of Parliament for the Odotobri Constituency, Hon. Anthony Mmieh, has warned that corruption remains one of the biggest threats to Ghana’s development, affecting the vast majority of citizens. Speaking to the media after the Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Workshop organized by AngloGold Ashanti in Obuasi, the MP said that beyond those who give or receive bribes, the entire society pays the price.
He explained that corruption leads to conflict of interest, undermines merit-based systems, and stalls development, especially in infrastructure and service delivery. According to him, when contracts are not awarded based on competence and transparency, the end result is poor execution and wasted resources — a situation that hurts the nation as a whole.
He pointed to Ghana’s legal measures like the Criminal Offences Act, the Criminal Code, and the Office of the Special Prosecutor as evidence of the country’s commitment to fighting corruption. However, he stressed that laws alone are not enough and called for frequent engagements like the AGA workshop to educate the public and promote ethical behavior.
Hon. Mmieh also noted the need for nationwide anti-corruption sensitization, not just corporate or localized initiatives. He advocated for community-wide education efforts to help Ghanaians fully understand that both giving and receiving bribes are against the law.
While commending AGA for organizing the event, he encouraged the mining company to ensure greater transparency in selecting communities for development projects. He said it is important that rural and underserved areas are not excluded from benefiting, especially as AngloGold Ashanti prepares to roll out major projects in 2025.
The MP called for fairness in the distribution of resources, emphasizing that communities outside the urban centers must also see tangible improvements in infrastructure such as school blocks and dormitories.
Hon. Mmieh concluded by reaffirming the importance of collective responsibility in tackling corruption. He described bribery as a canker that, if left unaddressed, will only continue to derail Ghana’s progress and entrench inequality.