By J. K. Nabary
Ekumfi Essuehyia (C/R), July 17, GNA – As part of activities to commemorate the 2025 edition of the African Union Anti-Corruption Day (AUACD), the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) embarked on basic school education programme at Mfantseman to equip students with knowledge and tools to act with integrity and to demand accountability.Â
The Methodist “B” and Closefield Basic Schools in Mankessim were the beneficiaries of the programme which was initiated by GACC through the Mfantseman Local Accountability Network, (LANet) and in partnership with the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) with support from the Hewlett Foundation.
The programme under the theme: “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations,” highlighted the importance of addressing corruption, promoting accountability and empowering them to avoid bribery and other related corruption issues.
The learners were taken through various types of corruption, their effects on institutions and the nation at large and help them to report corruption to the appropriate institutions for action.
The School Improvement Support Officer Mr Samuel Atakli was optimistic that the initiative would contribute significantly to the moral awareness of the learners and help shape their character.
In a statement, Central Regional Director of Education, Dr Juliette Dufie Otami and the Municipal Director of Education, Mr Ransford Appiah expressed their utmost confidence in the positive impact the initiative would have on the learners, starting from now, for a better, brighter future.
The Anti-Corruption Focal Person for Mfantseman, Very Rev Prof Mark Nii Lamptey, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency highlighted why AUACD is observed in every July saying it helped portrayed the Continent’s commitment to fighting corruption under the 2003 AU Convention.
He said the key objective of the celebration was to raise public awareness about corruption and empower young people to become active participants in the fight against it.
It is also aimed at promoting a culture of integrity, encourage civic participation, and support effective whistleblowing as well as to provide a platform to educate the youth, amplify their voices, and encourage them to take responsibility to promote transparency in accountability in the society.
Very Rev Prof Lamptey said corruption continued to be a canker, impeding the developmental progress of the country, with its impact widely visible is something to write home about on the entire continent.
He noted that since 2018, GACC had commemorated the day through outreach and education, especially among young people to prioritise them in their anti-corruption works, recognising their vulnerability to corruption and their potential as future leaders.
According to him GACC seeks to align with this year’s theme by empowering young people to speak up against corruption and its effects on their future and promote whistleblowing as a safe and powerful tool for them.
He said targeting young people to instill moral values in them to eschew all forms of corrupt practices and to shape a future where fairness permeates in society to nip corruption in the bud.
“if we as people will make a head in dealing with issues including bribery and confronting our quest for advancement as Africans, then we must frankly and humbly identify issues deterring our total growth, demand accountability and contribute to a more just and accountable society.”
He therefore called on the youth who are the future of the country to be fully empowered and stand against corruption, demand accountability from duty bearers and avoid bribery and other related corruption.
Madam Felicia Clark Headmistress of Methodist “B” Basic School and Madam Esther Smile Headmistress of Closefield School, thanked the organisers for the programme that would the students understand what corruption is and the need to avoid it, cherish integrity, and live a moral life.
GNA
Edited by Alice Tettey/Kenneth Odeng Adade