21 years of Catalysing Innovations across Networks and Communities

 

Let’s use a time machine and travel back to the year 2001. When we leave the machine, we enter a world in which smartphones do not yet exist. Windows XP has just been launched and a first iTunes Version is on the market. Journalists also still pretty much rely on notes, pencils, big camera equipment and libraries.

That is the environment when on 18^th of July, 2001 a group of young Ghanaians formed Penplusbytes. Initially, it was dubbed “International Institute of ICT Journalism”.

Nowadays, 21 years later, the approach is much broader. Our mission is to promote effective governance by deploying technology that enhances participation. One of the best examples for that is our newly built App “Shortchanged” (downloadable on Google Play and Apple Store). It seeks to create awareness about selected policies in the health and education sectors in Ghana and Mali and provide spaces for citizens to report on their experiences with each policy.

Simply, citizens get to know what their tax money is used for and can easily add their voices through online surveys and maybe shape the next policy with their experiences.

Let’s celebrate and look forward to our next innovative projects. We cannot be where we are now without our partners, clients and the ever-thriving team and management here at Penplusbytes. We say Ayekoo to us all!!

Penplusbytes has turned 21 and we are still counting.

Corruption in Ghana - People's Experiences & Views

 Corruption in Ghana - People's Experiences & Views

The next time you talk to a public officer, it is quite probable he/she got his/her job as a result of nepotism or bribery.

“The threat posed by corruption to our future is so obvious and frightening," Supreme Court Judge, Yoni Kulendi said on Thursday, July 20, 2022 during the release of the survey; “Corruption in Ghana – People’s Experiences and Views.”

To launch the report, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Ghana (UNODC), the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and other stakeholders invited media and interested personnel to the Best Western Airport Hotel in Accra.

Ghana officially adopted its National Anti-Corruption Action Plan in 2014. To contribute to its efficiency, the Ghana Statistical Service partnered with UNODC and questioned 15,000 respondents across the country on their experiences with bribery and corruption.

In the morning of the launch date, the Penplusbytes Team had packed its cameras and other equipment to livestream the event on social media and engage online audiences. Journalists from various news stations were also present and focused their cameras on Government Statistician, Professor Samuel Kobina Anim who delivered key findings from the survey. 

According to Prof. Anim, Ghana had lost more than GHC5 billion in bribes; the survey findings indicated.

Corruption was also most prevalent among the Ghana Police Service than any other state institution.

Interestingly, 1 out of every 4 Ghanaians paid a bribe in 2021.

The report also focused on bribery taking into consideration gender parities, revealing, that almost three percent of women are asked for sexual favors in exchange for government services.

Meanwhile, male officials are more likely to ask for bribes than their female counterparts.

UNODC in Ghana hopes to strengthen government actions against corruption with this new scientific foundation.