Accra, July 11, GNA – The Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) has called for bold and united action to tackle corruption, with renewed emphasis on empowering youth to lead the fight.
In a statement marking the 2025 African Anti-Corruption Day, Executive Secretary of GACC, Mrs. Beauty Emefa Narteh, urged young people to “Resist, Reject and Report” corruption in all its forms.
Observed annually on July 11, the African Anti-Corruption Day promotes implementation of the AU Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption and serves as a platform to assess progress and reaffirm commitment to transparency.
Mrs. Narteh described corruption as a persistent threat undermining Africa’s development, deepening inequality, and eroding public trust.
“In Ghana, the cost is undeniable. The 2023 Auditor-General’s Report revealed that the country lost over GH¢11 billion to financial irregularities—resources that could have transformed education, healthcare, and job opportunities,” she said.
Mrs. Narteh noted that youth are disproportionately affected, facing reduced access to education, employment, and social mobility.
“Yet it is these same young people who hold the power to change the story,” she added.
Mrs. Narteh said GACC and its partners are expanding their youth-focused anti-corruption campaign. In 2024, through Local Accountability Networks (LANets), over 27,600 young people across 33 districts in 14 regions were trained to identify and resist election-related corruption.
In 2025, with support from the Hewlett Foundation, the initiative will reach 40 districts in all 16 regions.
This year’s efforts align with the AU theme: “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations.”
The programme will engage youth through schools, religious groups, community events, and media platforms to promote civic responsibility and whistleblowing.
“We aim to inspire a new generation of youth to lead with integrity and demand accountability from duty bearers,” Mrs. Narteh stated.
She called on parents, teachers, traditional leaders, religious institutions, public agencies, and the media to support and protect youth in their stand for justice.
“It is our collective responsibility to empower our youth to be the generation that is fully committed to the fight against corruption,” she said.
Mrs. Narteh urged the youth to take a personal pledge against corruption by committing to the 3Rs: Resist, Reject, and Report.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey