Ghana is heading to a narco-state - Ing. Yaw Nsarkoh warns at GhIE's Annual Ethics Lecture

Renowned Chemical Engineer Ing. Yaw Nsarkoh has delivered an explosive lecture as the main speaker at this year’s Annual Ethics Lecture of the Ghana Institution of Engineers (GhIE).

Speaking on the theme: ‘Improving Nation Values, Professional Practice and Engineering Ethics’ on Thursday, October 26, Ing. Nsarkoh warned that Ghana could be heading to a narco-state if care is not taken.

“For there are now much more than subtle hints that massive flows from the international narcotics trade are being laundered in our Santa Claus democracy,” he said.

“That should explain why so much money is kept under beds, and in cupboards, wardrobes and chamber pots.”

The Lecture was attended by several dignitaries including the leadership of the Institution.

President Ing. Kwabena Bempong, President-Elect Ludwig Hesse and Executive Director Ing.David Kwatia Nyante were all present.

The Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo, was the Chair for the occasion.

Ing. Nsarkoh disclosed that the current Chief Justice was his first Literature teacher at Achimota School.

“When she first met me, I was a fifteen going on to sixteen year old Form Four student in Achimota School,” he told the audience at the Engineering Center at Roman Ridge, Accra.

“At the time, the only real reason I could find for being in school was that it would make my mother happy if I did well enough in the O-Level examinations to do my sixth-form (i.e. A-Levels) at Achimota School.

“The sitting Chief Justice was the very first person to teach me English Literature as a subject. And what a devoted doting teacher she was. I can only say thank you on behalf of the very many you touched so deeply, Trudy, our beloved Trudy.”

But the firebrand former student of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) did justice to the theme, warning of the dire effects the actions of current politicians will have on this or the next generation of Ghanaians.

“We cannot sit and watch our politicians raise such funds every four years and still expect them to be honest. We have become the society that expects politicians to turn up at Church harvests, durbars, birthday parties, funerals, weddings, outdoorings, events of their alma maters to make substantial donations.  

“We know the salaries of these public officials. Yet, we ask no questions about their source of funds. Where do they get such monies to make these donations so frequently and regularly, as well as fund their ostentatious lifestyles and side-chics?

“By not asking the questions we know we should be asking, we, all of us, have collapsed into collaborators. We are dripping with the guilt that characterises, the lumpenbourgeoisie everywhere – elite compromise. Tell me, I ask you the question, which professional association in Ghana does not know that there are several worries about our public procurement system? A system soaked in allegations of deals and kickbacks and bribery. Who pays these for jobs? Not professionals like us? So why are we quiet?

“For as long as we do nothing about political campaign funding, we are stuck with egregious corruption. And keep in mind that corruption denies the majority of our compatriots of dignity because it deprives them of social services they deserve simply because they are human!”

He also descended on professionals.

“You cannot take public funds or even private funds to do a job and then you construct things that kill people or damage the ecological system. I say it again, such professionals should be in a jail somewhere.”