Corrupt individuals are worse than pathogens; their actions cause premature deaths – Prof Frimpong-Boateng

Former Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, declared corruption a lethal social scourge that extends far beyond mere financial loss to include illness, disability and untimely demise. According to Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, the misappropriation of public funds caused by corruption creates widespread hardship and denies citizens vital services such as healthcare, clean water and environmental preservation.

He stated, "Corruption is not merely theft; it is a disease with a mortality rate." "When a nation's resources are siphoned off, the fallout manifests as disease, disability, and premature death," he added. The cardiothoracic surgeon made these remarks during a keynote address at the University of Education, Winneba's Fourth Annual Colloquium, held on September 2, 2026, under the theme "Politics, the Environment, and Our Future: Ghana at Crossroads?"

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng argued that Ghana's environmental degradation was primarily driven by corruption and insufficient technological expertise, rather than a lack of awareness about the issues at hand. He contended that Ghana possessed numerous policies, laws, and programs aimed at safeguarding natural resources and tackling illegal mining, yet implementation frequently faltered due to a lack of accountability.

The professor provided the example of water bodies and forest reserves being destroyed by illegal mining, demonstrating how corruption and weak oversight directly threaten human health. He pointed to the exposure of communities to toxic substances like mercury, arsenic, lead, cadmium, and chromium, which can result in kidney damage, neurological disorders, cancer, and complications during pregnancy.

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng also criticized the manipulation of land-use planning and public authority, claiming that chiefs, politicians, and security personnel played a central role in the issue. He lamented, "A concession is difficult and slow to obtain lawfully, and easy to obtain unlawfully — and where that is true of any system, the system is not underfunded, it is inverted."

The former minister urged for enhanced personal accountability for public officials, transparent records of environmental decisions, and an annual State of the Environment audit presented to Parliament. He emphasized that Ghana could not attain sustainable development without eliminating corruption, reinforcing the rule of law, and fostering public trust in law enforcement and the judiciary.