By James Esuon
Agona Swedru (C/R), July 24, GNA – The Ghana Anti-Corruption Campaign (GACC) in collaboration with Local Accountability Network (LANET) has organised a sensitisation programme to educate pupils in the Agona Swedru ADC (E) and Methodist (A) Basic Schools the effects of corrupt practices.
The programme was to enlighten the pupils about the effects of corruption, bribery, fraud, scam, nepotism and conflict of interest that had robbed the country for years, impeding national development in all sectors.
Mr Abubakar Adams, the Agona West Municipal Director of LANET who addressed the pupils at Agona Swedru, stated that corruption, bribery, fraud among other vices had slowed down Ghana’s progress with some public officials taking undue advantage of their positions to divert public funds, while others took kickbacks of 10 percent of contract sums from contractors.
The Municipal Director of LANET cited an examples to include failure to utilise government funds to build infrastructure like hospitals, schools and roads.
According to Mr Adams, taking kickbacks could affect the integrity of projects because of shoddy works by contractors, and the government would eventually have to allocate more money for renovation works.
Mr Adams said state institutions which dealt with corrupt public officials who indulged in corrupt practices included Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), National Investigation Bureau (NIB), the Police, Office of Special Prosecutor (OSP) and many others.
The Municipal Director therefore urged the pupils to report corruption, bribery, fraud, scam and others to the security agencies and the Assemblyman in their various electoral areas.
Ms Lucy Ama Duka, the headmistress of Agona Swedru ADC(E) Basic School expressed gratitude to the GACC, the LANET and the Hero Network for sensitising the students on corruption and bribery which had retarded development of the country.
The headmistress therefore appealed to successive governments to check and punish public office holders who were involved in fraud and infractions against the country.
Ms Duker added that the country needed good roads, hospitals and modern schools infrastructure for conducive environment for citizens to enjoy quality life.
Mr Benjamin Buabeng, the Director of Hero Network reiterated calls on people appointed to higher offices and other positions to eschew fraud, nepotism and conflict of interests which derailed the country’s economy.
Mr Buabeng admonished the students to be bold and report or hint security services of corrupt practices being perpetrated by some public officials in the country, adding that ‘’Our Country has been gifted with so many natural resources but due to mismanagement and misapplication were making the country to lag behind.
He said corruption was an abuse of entrusted power by public officials to discharge their duties for personal gains and further depriving citizens from benefiting fully of the state resources in their care.
Mr Buabeng said there were state institutions empowered by law to deal with people involved in embezzlement of state funds., adding that it was the responsibility of every Ghanaian to serve as whistle blower and report all corrupt officials to the police and NIB to deal with them accordingly.
The pupils expressed their willingness to fearlessly report corrupt public officials to the security agencies and other law enforcement officers to deal with such office holders to serve as deterrent to others.
GNA
Edited by Alice Tettey/Benjamin Mensah