Ghana’s fight against corruption is not for the faint-hearted. It is a war waged against entrenched interests, where power and greed conspire to silence dissent and frustrate reform.
This was the essence of a fiery statement by Osagyefo Mawuse Oliver Barker-Vormawor, a seasoned activist who has warned that the battle against corruption will not be won without pain, sacrifice, and unwavering resolve.
Barker-Vormawor’s comments come in the wake of a chilling revelation by Ghana’s Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, who described his personal security risk as “ultra high.”
Speaking at the Constitution Day Public Lecture, the Special Prosecutor painted a grim picture of the dangers he and his team face in their mission to root out corruption.
From orchestrated smear campaigns to outright life-threatening situations, the resistance against anti-corruption efforts is both fierce and relentless.
Barker-Vormawor, a prominent advocate for democratic accountability, did not mince words in his reaction.
“To be the corruption czar, one must be willing to put their life on the line,” he declared, emphasizing that the fight against corruption is a war—one that must be fought with the willingness to face the gravest consequences.
The activist likened the battle against corruption to an all-out war, arguing that those who seek to challenge the corrupt must adopt a warrior’s mindset.
“If corruption barks, you must roar! When it screams, you must draw blood. No room to cower. You cannot care about friendships and being invited to dinner parties with the very thieves if your intention is to serve the Republic.”
Osagyefo Mawuse Oliver Barker-Vormawor
His words reflect the dangerous realities faced by anti-corruption crusaders in Ghana. The corrupt, he noted, will not yield willingly.
“They will fight you with everything they have—money, influence, threats, and violence. They will brand you a traitor, isolate you, and weaponize the law against you.”
Osagyefo Mawuse Oliver Barker-Vormawor
The Special Prosecutor’s recent remarks validate these claims. Since its establishment, his office, which investigates and prosecutes corruption cases, has faced intense opposition.
Attempts to undermine his credibility and intimidate his team are frequent. According to Barker-Vormawor, this is the cost of attempting to dismantle a deeply entrenched system of corruption that has taken root across multiple levels of governance.
The Price of Justice in Ghana
Barker-Vormawor further stressed that justice is not a privilege but a right—a right stolen from citizens by those who hoard power and resources.
He urged Ghanaians to recognize that corruption does not only drain public funds but also erodes the very fabric of democracy.
Indeed, Ghana’s struggles with corruption are well-documented. From procurement fraud to political bribery, the nation continues to rank poorly on global corruption indices.
According to the latest report released by Transparency International (TI), Ghana recorded a score of 42 out of a clean 100, ranking 80th out of 180 countries and territories.
This marks a decline from its 2023 score of 43 and highlights persistent governance challenges despite numerous policy interventions and institutional reforms.
Yet, the fight against corruption, according to Barker-Vormawor, is often met with indifference or, worse, hostility from those in power.
He disclosed that his activism, particularly his role in leading the #FixTheCountry movement, has made him a target of political persecution.
“I know all this because, with just a protest! Just by walking in the streets, they were prepared to break my spirit and my flesh. They still do not understand why I did not accept defeat and die!”
Osagyefo Mawuse Oliver Barker-Vormawor
Despite the dangers, he remains undeterred. “You need that stubbornness that, in their confusion and disbelief, they start to label as mad,” he said, invoking the example of Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, whose radical vision for national liberation was initially dismissed as madness.
Barker-Vormawor’s words carry a deeper message: the need for a new kind of independence—one that liberates Ghana from the clutches of corruption.
“Our next independence must be to liberate this Republic from the claws of the corrupt!” he proclaimed, suggesting that Ghana’s true emancipation is yet to be realized.
His call echoes the sentiments of many Ghanaians who feel disillusioned by the state of governance. While successive governments have paid lip service to the fight against corruption, meaningful accountability remains elusive.
Whistleblowers are threatened, investigative journalists are harassed, and anti-corruption institutions are often starved of resources.
The Special Prosecutor’s recent revelations serve as a stark reminder that Ghana’s corruption problem is not just about financial mismanagement—it is a structural crisis that threatens the nation’s stability.
The fact that a top anti-corruption official faces life-threatening risks is an indictment of the system. Barker Vormawor emphasized that the war against corruption cannot be won by those who seek comfort or applause.
“If you desire a peaceful existence, this is not your calling. If you crave applause, step aside,” he warned, underscoring that the battle for justice is not waged in banquets but in the trenches.
History, he noted, does not remember those who dined with thieves. “It remembers those who faced them down.” These words challenge both individuals and institutions to examine their role in either enabling or resisting corruption.
For those willing to take up the mantle, Barker-Vormawor’s words offer both a warning and a battle cry—this war will not be won easily, but it is a fight that must be fought.
READ ALSO: Trump Berates Zelenskyy
