By Anthony Adongo Apubeo, GNA
Paga (U/E), July 14, GNA – The Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) has advised young people to cultivate integrity and reject all forms of corruption since the future of Ghana’s fight against corruption depended largely on the values of the younger generation.
Mr Emmanuel Anafo, the Upper East Regional Focal Person of the GACC, made the call when he addressed students and pupils of Paga Senior High School, Tedam Junior High School, Paga Junior High School in the Kassena-Nankana West District, and Bonia Junior High School in the Kassena-Nankana Municipality as part of activities marking this year’s African Union Anti-Corruption Day.
The commemoration, which is observed annually on July 11, was to commemorate the adoption of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC), and serve as a strategic platform for reflection, advocacy, and action against corruption across African countries.
The event, organised by the GACC in collaboration with TradeAID Integrated, with funding support from the Hewlett Foundation, was held on the theme, “Scaling Up the Promotion of Integrity and Anti-Corruption Actions Across Africa.”
Mr Anafo said corruption continued to undermine national development and endangered lives through the diversion and misuse of public resources meant for critical infrastructure and services.
He cited the construction of poor-quality roads and public facilities as examples of how corruption affected ordinary citizens, noting that roads built with diverted or misused funds often deteriorated within a short period, contributing to road crashes and loss of lives.
“Whenever monies meant for public amenities are diverted, it poses a danger to lives,” he said, adding that corruption denied citizens access to quality infrastructure and essential public services.
Mr Anafo urged the students and pupils to grow into responsible leaders who would prioritise honesty and accountability in both public and private life.
“I know among you here today is the next District Chief Executive, the next President, and the next Member of Parliament. The people who occupy these positions hold the key to making this country the place we all want it to be,” he said.
He also linked the recent flooding in parts of Accra to integrity failures, explaining that illegal developments on waterways and the granting of permits for such activities reflected a lack of honesty and accountability among some individuals entrusted with public responsibilities.
“If the people there had been truthful with themselves and displayed integrity in their actions, we would not have reached the point where lives were lost through flooding,” he stated.
Mr Anafo challenged the students and pupils to reject practices such as fraud, embezzlement, and misappropriation of public funds, stressing that such acts constituted theft regardless of the terms used to describe them.
“Remember the three Rs: Refuse to be corrupt, Reject acts of corruption, and Report acts of corruption to your teachers, assembly members, chiefs, the Police, the Office of the Special Prosecutor, and other law enforcement agencies,” he admonished.
He encouraged the students and pupils to become ambassadors of integrity in their schools and communities and contribute to building a society where transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct prevailed.
The GACC Regional Focal Person also engaged the students in an interactive discussion to assess their understanding of corruption and integrity, following a similar anti-corruption sensitisation programme organised in the schools during the commemoration of the International Anti-Corruption Day in December last year.
He said instilling integrity in young people was critical to preventing corruption and ensuring sustainable national development and urged the young people to demonstrate honesty in their daily lives and inspire others to do the same.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/George-Ramsey Benamba
Reporter: Anthony Adongo Apubeo
Email: anthony.pubeo@gna,org,gh