By Kamal Ahmed
Akropong (E/R), Aug 7, GNA - The Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), in conjunction with the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has held a two-day workshop to train citizens on anti-corruption initiatives and empower them to speak against the canker and its related issues.
The workshop, held at Akropong in the Akuapem North Municipality of the Eastern Region, was to mobilise and incentivise citizens and civic groups to actively report and denounce corrupt practices..
The programme brought together local civil society organisations (CSOs), community-based organisations, social auditing clubs, women’s associations, media, youth groups, and people with disability.
This forms part of the CDD-Ghana, GII, and GACC project, “Strengthening Accountability, Rule of Law, and Institutional Responsiveness in Ghana.”
The project intends to strengthen CSOs watchdog role in promoting and advocating accountability and rule of law reforms in Ghana.
A series of exercises were conducted with the participants, teaching them how to report corruption and several types of corruption-related behaviours, such as extortion, nepotism, bribery, and embezzlement.
In an interview with Ghana News Agency, Mr Jacob Tetteh Ahunor, the Head of Programs and Research, GII, blamed the unsuccessful fight against corruption on the ineffective measures implemented to combat the canker.
He said had impeded Ghana’s development, with the country losing GHC 300,000 a year in the fight against corruption.
Mr Ahunor said enhancing the organisations’ capabilities would aid in public education and support efforts to combat, expose, and denounce corrupt practices across the nation.
The only maximum score Ghana had ever received in the battle against corruption since 2012 was 48 per cent and that the workshop would help improve the score.
Nana Akua Pebia, the Queen Mother of Mampong Akuapem, said she believed that if everyone worked together towards the same goal, Ghana would be able to eradicate corruption.
She stressed the need for community participation in ideas and policies that could help fight the canker.
“Some of us were unaware that bailing at the police station was free, but now that we have been educated, we can speak out against police extortion when going to bail someone out at the police station, as there have been several instances where people have been asked to pay a fee for bail” she said.
Nana Pebia urged participants to educate their groups and explain how corruption affects the country, and how to stand up against and denounce wrongdoing.
“When we bond together to fight corruption, everything will fall into place for the betterment of the country, including good roads and hospitals…” she said.
The Queen cited a case whereby buildings on buffer zones and waterways are causing havoc to communities and called on the Department of Town and Country Planning at the district and municipal assemblies not to allow themselves to be corrupted by homeowners because when there was a disaster, everyone suffers.
Ms Benedicta Duvor, the Akuapem North Municipal Director, NCCE), said the Commission was committed to educating the public on their rights and the training would strengthen a collaborative effort for citizens to learn, report, and speak out against corrupt practices.
She stated that the eradication of corruption was doable if all and sundry came together with a common goal and determination of purpose to eliminate the canker.
“We at the NCCE are always prepared to go out there and educate the public about corruption, how it has harmed national development, and why it must be eradicated” she said.
Ms Duvor urged social groups, churches, traditional authorities, and other associations to invite the Commission to sensitise their members on these topics.
The Ghana Integrity Initiative is a local chapter of Transparency International, coordinating a three-year anti-corruption project in 24 municipalities and districts, which is being sponsored by the European Union.
GNA