The Ghana Ports and Harbor Authority (GPHA) has reprimanded a security officer who allegedly accepted an unofficial gift while on duty at the Tema Port, after a video of the incident was published on Klarity.org, an online platform collaborating with the Tiger Eye Foundation.
“We are positive about the professional management and response from GPHA for standing up against misconduct. Officials who take action and enforce the codes of ethics of public institutions should be applauded,” said Anas Aremeyaw Anas, Tiger Eye Foundation.
In June, 2017, a port security official was caught on camera allegedly accepting what he called a gift from a Port customer during the goods clearance process. After the video was published on the online platform Klarity.org representatives of Klarity and its key community partner Tiger Eye Foundation followed up to engage the Authorities of GPHA.
Under the supervision of Esther Gyebi-Donkor, General Manager of Marketing and Corporate Affairs of GPHA, the Port Authority investigated and took action on the reported case. On the 20th of June, 2018, GPHA officially wrote to Klarity, stating that they had investigated the case and reprimanded the officer in question. The person observed in the video was confirmed to be Port Authority staff.
GPHA has reprimanded the officer involved and strongly warned him against accepting anything in the form of a gift or bribe while completing his duties, as that is considered unprofessional and against the rules of securing Ghana’s Ports. Additionally, the officer was made to forfeit his overtime privileges for one month and has been redeployed to a post where he will not come into direct contact with clients of the Port Authority.
Klarity is an online community where citizens engage in addressing petty corruption issues in their local neighborhoods by providing video-based evidence. Klarity’s key community partner in Ghana is the Tiger Eye Foundation.
