Corruption, Nepotism or the “Whom You Know” Factor and How it Affects Recruitment in the Banking Sector of Ghana

Abstract

A review of literature on corruption and nepotism shows there is still much to be learned and studied. The political and legal aspects of nepotism, as well as its impact on public sector, particularly in areas such as police, political parties and justice systems seem to be the more reported issues. However, nepotism's impact on human resource management has not been studied. This research aims to fill this gap by investigating to what extent nepotism (the "whom you know" factor) as one of Ghana's cultural and social practices impacts on recruitment issues. This research was carried out in the qualitative paradigm, making an explanatory analysis based on a case study of the banking sector in Ghana. The research results based on 101 in-depth interviews, confirm the widespread existence of “Whom you know” when trying to secure a position in the banking sector. It was found that 80% of the 50 bank sector employees interviewed obtained their employment through “Whom you know”. The researcher strongly recommends that the Ghana Anti-Corruption Campaign Coalition (GACC) must push for the full implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP), which was recently ratified by Parliament. The research contributes an increased awareness of nepotism and its impact on individuals and the society in addition to suggesting strategies for combating it.

Keywords: Corruption, nepotism, GACC, banking sector, NACAP, employment, Ghana.