By Emelia B. Addae
Koforidua, July 30, GNA – The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has organised a dialogue on respect for the rule of law, transparency, accountability and ethical leadership to equip young people with the knowledge and values required for responsible leadership.
The dialogue, held by the Eastern Regional Office of the NCCE, brought together students from the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) College of Education, All Nations University and the Nursing and Midwifery Training College.
Addressing participants, Ms Ophelia Nana Yaa Ankrah, the Eastern Regional Director of the NCCE, said the engagement provided a platform for young people aspiring to leadership positions, to reflect on ethical leadership, transparency, accountability and respect for the rule of law.
She said these remained essential pillars for strengthening democratic governance and sustaining public trust in state institutions.
She said that although Ghana had established legal and institutional frameworks to promote democratic governance and accountability, there were still persisted challenges.
These challenges included corruption, conflict of interest, abuse of office and weak adherence to ethical standards continued to undermine national development and public confidence, she said.
Ms Ankrah urged the participants to recognise their strategic roles in shaping the future of the nation.
She stressed that the decisions they made, the values they upheld and the attitudes they demonstrated within their campuses and communitie, would influence the character of tomorrow’s public institutions.
She said the dialogue formed part of the NCCE’s Participation, Accountability and Integrity for a Resilient Democracy (PAIRED) Project.
The project is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the European Union and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs.
Delivering a presentation on conflict of interest, Mr Augustine Mensah Bosroti, the Deputy Eastern Regional Director of the NCCE, explained that conflict of interest occurred when a public official’s personal interests, whether financial, relational or otherwise, had the potential to improperly influence the performance of official duties and responsibilities.
He identified family relationships, financial interests, outside employment, gifts and favours, as some of the major causes of conflict of interest.
Mr Bosroti said such practices often resulted in poor decision-making, discouraged citizens and stakeholders from participating in governance because they perceived decisions to be biased or self-serving, and undermined equal treatment while creating disparities.
He said conflict of interest undermined public confidence in governance processes and weakened accountability in public institutions.
“Conflict of interest undermines equal treatment and creates disparities,” he told participants.
Mr Bosroti recommended the strict enforcement of conflict of interest policies with clear and consistent sanctions, greater transparency by making disclosures, decisions and processes accessible to the public, and the establishment of independent oversight bodies to investigate and adjudicate such cases.
Speaking on the theme, “Youth Leadership as a Catalyst for Good Governance”, Mr Bosroti said young people, through effective leadership, could drive positive change, strengthen democratic institutions, promote accountability and contribute significantly to national development.
The youth could champion innovation to solve societal challenges, hold leaders accountable to their promises and encourage greater civic participation by motivating citizens to vote, speak up, and actively engage in governance processes, he said.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Augustine Asante Kusi, the Municipal Crime Officer at Koforidua, also took participants through influence peddling.
He explained that influence peddling occurred when a public officer used his or her position, authority or personal connections to obtain an improper advantage for another person.
ASP Kusi said the practice was inconsistent with ethical leadership and urged public officers to choose integrity over convenience, justice over favouritism and service over self-interest in the discharge of their responsibilities.
The dialogue formed part of the NCCE’s efforts to empower young people with the knowledge, values and leadership skills needed to promote transparency, accountability and adherence to the rule of law.
GNA
Edited by D.I. Laary/ Christabel Addo
Reporter: Emelia B. Addae, GNA
Email: [email protected]