Dr Akwasi Opong-Fosu, Chair, Africa Global Emergence Centre, says corruption is not destiny but rather it is a decision repeated, tolerated, and reinforced.
He said but integrity was also a decision principled, courageous, and consistent.
Dr Opong-Fosu was speaking at the Anti-Corruption Roudtable Forum co-hosted by the Global Chamber of Commerce and the University of South Carolina Sonoco International Business Department.
The Forum was on the theme: “Towards a New Anti-Corruption Agenda: Lessons from Diverse Stakeholders in Africa and the West.”
The Virtual event brought together African and Western leaders from the public and private sectors, civil society, and academia to identify new issues and solutions to the persistent problem of corruption and its impact on African business.
Effective anti-corruption efforts in a rapidly changing world require a shared understanding of the changing nature of the problem and an openness to new solutions.

He urged stakeholders to speak truth even when it is inconvenient, hold themselves and others accountable and build institutions that would outlast them.
“Let us not just discuss corruption but let us defeat it with policy, with leadership, and with collective resolve,” he added.
The Former Minister said corruption was not just a bureaucratic lapse but it was a direct attack on human dignity.
“It robs nations of opportunity, weakens institutions, and undermines public trust,” he added.
He said globally, corruption drained over $2.6 trillion annually from the global economy, representing more than 5 per cent of global GDP and over $1 trillion was lost in bribes every single year.
He said in developing countries, an estimated $1.26 trillion was lost annually enough to lift 1.4 billion people out of poverty for at least six years.
For Africa, the loss is approximately $10 billion annually resources that could have built hospitals, funded schools, and created jobs.
“But these numbers are not just statistics. They are stolen medicines. They are unbuilt roads,” he said.