By Anthony Adongo Apubeo
Sumbrungu (U/E), July 25, GNA – The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has advised young people to uphold responsible citizenship and actively demand accountability from duty bearers, to strengthen democratic governance and the fight against corruption.
The Commission said the youth, who constituted a significant proportion of Ghana’s population, had a crucial role to play in promoting transparency, ethical leadership, and respect for the rule of law by holding public officials accountable for the management of public resources.
Mr Augustine Akugri, the Deputy Upper East Regional Director of the NCCE, made the call at the Bolgatanga Technical University, during a Youth Leaders’ Empowerment Dialogue organised by the Commission under the Civic Engagements on the Rule of Law and the Fight Against Corruption component of the Participation, Accountability and Integrity for a Resilient Democracy (PAIReD) Programme.
The project was commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and co-financed by the European Union and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).
It is being implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance, with the NCCE serving as an implementing partner.
Mr Akugri observed that despite Ghana’s legal and institutional frameworks to promote accountability and integrity, governance challenges such as corruption, conflict of interest, influence peddling, and weak adherence to ethical standards continued to undermine public confidence and equitable national development.
“In recent years, the demand for public accountability and respect for the rule of law has become increasingly important. Citizens have a responsibility to demand accountability from those entrusted with public resources and authority.
“The fight against corruption cannot be left to government institutions alone. It requires the active participation of citizens, particularly the youth,” he said.
He said the Youth Leaders’ Empowerment Dialogue sought to equip youth leaders with practical knowledge of public accountability, anti-corruption, ethical leadership, transparency, and the rule of law to enable them to influence positive behavioural change among their peers.
“We expect you to take the knowledge and lessons gained from this engagement back to your institutions and communities and use them to promote a culture of integrity, responsibility, and accountability,” he told the participants.
Mr Akugri encouraged the youth to participate actively in governance discussions, ask critical questions, share experiences, and champion ethical leadership in their communities.
“Become champions of integrity, accountability, transparency, and responsible citizenship. Let us work together to build a generation of young leaders who will not only demand accountability from others but will also hold themselves to the highest standards of ethical conduct,” he said.
The dialogue forms part of a nationwide initiative to be held across the 16 regional capitals and at the national level to strengthen the capacity of youth leaders to promote transparency, accountability, ethical leadership, and respect for the rule of law within their institutions and communities.
The initiative targets members of Civic Education Clubs, Student Representative Councils, Junior Common Rooms, the National Union of Ghana Students, the Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana, student political groups, Civil Society Organisations, and other organised youth groups.
Reverend Father Dr Augustine Ayaga, the Parish Priest of the Saint Theresa Catholic Church in Paga, who facilitated the training, upheld the rule of law, arguing that its absence would lead to chaos, instability, abuse of human rights, and underdevelopment.
The youth acknowledged their responsibility but called for the strengthening of law enforcement agencies through adequate resources and the independent appointment of members of such institutions to enhance transparency and independence.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/ Christabel Addo
Reporter: Anthony Adongo Apubeo
Email: [email protected]