AN EXAMINATION OF SOCIETAL VALUES AND NORMS AND ITS IMPACT IN THE FIGHT AGAINST FRAUD AND CORRUPTION: A CASE STUDY OF THE SISAALA PEOPLE IN THE LAMBUSSIE TRADITIONAL AREA OF THE UPPER WEST REGION

Abstract

The issue of fraud and corruption has become a subject of immenseconcern. In fact, it hasbecome extremely vitalto the academia and a global subject to the extent that it enjoys attention from every facet of the societal set up. Moreover, fraud and corruption continue to dominatethe central discussion of the mass media, religious deliberations, the epicenter of political criticisms and the talk of the society as a whole. Imperatively, the adverse effect of these acts cannot be overemphasized especially when compared to the excellent societal norms and values which is anticipated to serve as a guide and mirrors that reflects societal expectations on the path of this life in every sphere.Several scholars in the academia have raised concerns on the issue of fraud and corruption and its corrosive effect on the progress and development.Undeniably, many African nations are crippled by this social menace and Ghana is not an exception.(Kaufmann, Daniel; Vicente, Pedro 2005). Furthermore, revealed that there is superfluity of anti-corruption laws in Ghana yet there exist huge implementations gap. Hence, this paper thus, sought to identify the value based norms, practices and systems which are also considered to be anticorruptions norms among the Sisaala of the Lambussie Traditional Area and its impact as well as how to blend with the conventional anti-corruption laws to effectively fight the menace of corruption. As such the paper uses a qualitative research method and the result revealed that the Sisaala in LTA has value based norms, best practices and systems such as death by logging’, banishment, fines, hooting or shaming, swearing, invoking of curses and threat of punishment by awesome and uncompromising deities such as ‘Nansie’(the God of lighting and thunder), Tebuor (earth God), various deities associated with landforms such as ponds/streams, hills and the ancestors.This can blend with the conventional anti-corruption laws to effectively fight corruption.