By Maxwell Awumah, GNA
Kadjebi (O/R), April 25, GNA – The Kadjebi District Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), with support from the European Union (EU) and GIZ, has organised a symposium for some categories of students.
They include members of the Civic Education Club (CEC) of Kadjebi-Asato Senior High School (KASEC) and other youth groups in the school on rule of law and the fight against corruption.
The engagement formed part of the NCCE’s activities under the “Civic Engagements on the Rule of Law and the Fight Against Corruption” initiative, implemented through the Participation, Accountability and Integrity for a Resilient Democracy (PAIRed) programme.
Mr Daniel Agbesi Latsu, Kadjebi District Director of the NCCE, said the Directorate had earlier engaged out-of-school youth, women groups and technocrats at the assemblies and groups on the same subject.
He said, recognising the strategic importance of in-school youth as emerging leaders and decision-makers, the project sought to engage them to deepen their understanding of governance and accountability.
Mr Latsu explained that the symposium was designed to discuss ethical leadership, conflict of interest and influence peddling, while reinforcing respect for the rule of law and public accountability standards.
He noted that the activity was expected to consolidate gains from earlier engagements and help nurture a group of youth ambassadors for transparency and integrity within schools and communities.
He urged participants to serve as ambassadors by creating awareness on the rule of law, reducing corruption, and promoting accountability among their peers and within their families.
Ms Lawrencia Agyemang, Kadjebi District Director of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), said discussions on conflict of interest must be linked to the broader issue of corruption.
“Conflict of interest is the temptation, while corruption is giving in to that temptation,” she stated.
She defined corruption as the misuse of entrusted power for private gain and identified forms such as bribery, embezzlement, abuse of office, abuse of power, nepotism, cronyism, and extortion.
She urged participants to eschew such practices.
Speaking on “Conflict of Interest in Public and Institutional Decision-Making, Influence Peddling and Abuse of Office,” Ms Agyemang explained that conflict of interest arises when personal interests interfere with official responsibilities.
She emphasised the need for participants to avoid such situations to uphold integrity in public and institutional roles.
Mr Shadrach Issifa, Executive Director of the El-Shaddai Research Centre for Ethical Governance, a Kadjebi-based think tank, spoke on “The Rule of Law and Ethical Leadership Standards.”
He said the rule of law requires that the law remains supreme and applies equally to all, while ethical governance is essential for building a fair, transparent, and sustainable society.
Mr Issifa noted that although Ghana practises a constitutional multi-party democracy with legal frameworks aimed at promoting good governance, the system continues to face challenges such as corruption and misappropriation of state resources, which hinder development.
“This underscores the critical need for ethical governance, which promotes transparency and the rule of law, but can only be achieved through ethical leadership and strong political will,” he added.
The programme was attended by members of KASEC CEC, the Konkomba Students’ Union (KOBASU), Pentecost Students’ and Associates (PENSA), NMSQ Club members, and the Ghana Muslim Students’ Union, among others.
Mr Joy Kwabla Mensah, Assistant Headmaster in charge of Welfare, chaired the programme.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah /Kenneth Odeng Adade