By Dennis Peprah
Sunyani, (Bono), Dec. 9, GNA-The Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) has called on the nation’s youth not to remain silent in the face of wrongdoing.
Mrs Beauty Emefa Narteh, the Executive Secretary of the anti-corruption advocacy body, asked the youth to commit to fighting the menace by resisting, rejecting and reporting corruption.
“You are not only the leaders of tomorrow, but also the defenders of integrity today”, Mrs Nartey stated in a statement issued by the GACC to commemorate the 2025 International Anti-Corruption Day.
It called on parents, teachers, religious leaders, the media, public institutions, civil society, and community leaders to continue supporting the youth in their stand for integrity and justice.
The International Anti-Corruption Day is observed annually on December 9, since the passage of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption on October 31, 2003 to raise public awareness for anti-corruption.
This year’s celebration is on the theme: “Uniting with youth against corruption: shaping tomorrow’s integrity” and highlights the vital role of young people in building fairer and a more transparent society.
A copy of the statement made available to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani called for a renewed and collective commitment to the fight against corruption, a struggle central to Ghana’s development, social justice, and democratic progress.
It noted that corruption continued to drain public resources, weaken institutions, increase inequality, and erode public trust, saying: “Every cedi lost is a missed opportunity for better schools, improved healthcare, stronger infrastructure, and decent jobs”.
Its impact is felt most by our youth, whose dreams are limited when the systems meant to serve them are compromised”, the statement added.
The statement indicated that the 2025 theme for the celebration resonated deeply with GACC’s work, saying over the years, the coalition had continuously empowered young people with knowledge, values, and confidence to uphold integrity and accountability.
“This is basically because shaping Ghana’s future begins with nurturing the conscience of our youth today”, it stated.
In 2024, an election year, the GACC, through its Local Accountability Networks (LANets), implemented youth-focused anti-corruption engagements across 34 districts in 14 regions, reaching approximately 50,000 young people.
That, it added, was achieved through activities in tertiary institutions, senior high schools, faith-based groups, youth groups, and community organisations.
These efforts were strengthened by a targeted social media campaign that expanded national reach and deepened public dialogue on electoral integrity, vote-buying, and election-related corruption.
Building upon the foundation, the statement explained that 2025 would see a significant expansion of our youth-focused campaign.
“This year, GACC is rolling out activities in 87 districts across all 16 regions of Ghana. Our engagements aim to educate young people about the effects of corruption, promote whistleblowing, and foster civic responsibility as citizens committed to transparency and accountability”.
Alongside the community outreach, a social media campaign will continue to amplify youth voices and spread anti-corruption messages across digital platforms, the statement explained saying those activities were being undertaken with the support of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and the GIZ/EU funded PAIReD Programme.
It said: “At GACC, we believe empowering the youth is not merely education; it is a strategic investment in our nation’s future.
When young people understand corruption and are equipped to challenge it, they become powerful agents of change”.
GNA
Edited by Christian Akorlie