By Opesika Tetteh Puplampu
Sege, July 25, GNA -The Local Accountability Network (LANet) in the Ada East District, led by the Ayongo Foundation, has urged students at Ada Senior High Technical School (ASTECH) to be vigilant, patriotic, and proactive in reporting acts of corruption in their schools and communities.
The advice was given during a sensitisation session, which formed part of an anti-corruption outreach organised in collaboration with the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), and the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), with support from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
Addressing the students, Madam Betty Sackey, the Ada LANet Focal Person, emphasised the importance of youth involvement in the fight against corruption.
“As students and citizens, you must know your rights, be patriotic, and report anything you believe to be a corrupt act,” she said.
Mrs Elizabeth Hammond Agyemang, Director of CHRAJ, Ada East, encouraged the students to speak up through the appropriate channels, such as the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), the police, school authorities, or community opinion leaders.
She noted that corruption often involves the abuse of public office for personal gain and stressed that citizens must be bold to expose wrongdoing and uphold their personal integrity.
Madam Faustina Blewusi, the NCCE Director for Ada East, challenged the belief that corruption is only a problem among politicians, stating that “Corruption starts with children too, not only politicians. If it is reported early, it can be corrected early.”
Madam Blewusi, also known as Mama Megbenya II, urged the students to be loyal citizens, saying corruption had direct consequences on youth employment opportunities, adding that “When you complete school, you’ll need jobs. But when officers are corrupt, opportunities shrink. If you see something, say something.”
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) John Akugah, Commander of the Sege Police Station, reminded the students that corruption and crime have legal consequences, even for minors, stressing that “If you break the law as a child, you will face the law as a child.”
He added that peer pressure could lead students into fraud or theft, advising them, therefore, to be vigilant and avoid unlawful behaviour.
ASP Akugah further reminded students that school records were permanent, and negative actions taken today could haunt them in the future, urging them to avoid fighting and quarrels and rather be of good behaviour.
Mr Raphael Vroom, Headmaster of ASTECH, expressed appreciation for the outreach and reaffirmed his commitment to nurturing responsible citizens, saying that the school remains focused on instilling discipline and encouraging students to report any corrupt practices, especially during and after examinations.
Some of the students who spoke with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) expressed enlightenment after the engagement.
GNA
Edited by Laudia Sawer/Kenneth Odeng Adade