Accra: Private legal practitioner Maurice Ampaw has confessed to deliberately complicating examination questions during his tenure as a lecturer at Central University. He admitted to this practice during an appearance on GhanaWeb TV's The Lowdown show, attributing the decision to advice from a colleague who suggested it could increase his income.
According to Ghana Web, Ampaw shared that his initial approach to teaching Company and Business Law in the early 2000s was to ensure all students comprehended the material, resulting in nearly a 100% pass rate. However, a fellow lecturer informed him that facilitating student success was financially disadvantageous, as lecturers could profit from students who needed to retake exams or pay for extra tuition.
Ampaw explained that he was persuaded by this rationale and subsequently altered his examination strategy to increase failure rates among students, thereby benefitting from the associated financial opportunities. He described this shift as a form of corruption, emphasizing that it stemmed not from direct financial inducements but from the incentive structure within the educational system.
His remarks highlighted the broader issue of corruption, suggesting that it is not solely about monetary transactions. Ampaw argued that influence and personal gain are significant drivers of unethical behavior, stating that about 40% of corruption is due to non-monetary factors.
Ampaw's revelations contribute to the ongoing discussion about the pervasive nature of corruption in Ghana, which he believes extends beyond politics and the judiciary into various societal sectors.