Fighting Corruption: GACC takes Education to schools

The Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) with the support of Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) and other partners have taken an initiative to embark on outreach programmes in schools within the 16 regions of the country. The purpose is to admonish students to desist from corrupt practices.

According to the Coalition, this will ensure that future generations are brought up and enlightened for a corruption-free country. It is also to ensure a win for the fight against corruption.

This was revealed at a press statement signed and issued by the Executive Secretary of the GACC, Beauty Emefa Narteh, as part of activities commemorating the International Anti-Corruption Day in  Ghana.

According to the statement, the significance of this year’s theme: “United Against Corruption” challenges every citizen of Ghana to unite and Say No to Corruption.

It stated that, this year’s Anti-Corruption Day focuses on the youth with emphasis on their roles in strengthening accountability and developing innovative solutions to prevent and curb corruption.

The coalition is therefore admonishing the youth to desist from corrupt practices and report officials that engage in such practices to the appropriate Anti-Corruption agencies in the country.

“We admonish the youth to desist from corrupt practices and also report officials who demand facilitation fees from you to fast track services,” the statement said.

The full Press Statement Issued by Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

9th December, 2019Press Statement on the occasion of the 2019 International Anti-Corruption DayThe Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition is pleased to embark on activities to commemorate the International Anti-Corruption Day within ten regional capitals of Ghana with kind support of our partners especially Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA). The International Anti-Corruption Day presents an opportunity for Ghanaians in all walks of life to deeply reflect on the cost and impact of corruption on Ghana’s development whilst creating the needed public awareness on the dangers of corrupt practices. The significance of this year’s theme: “United Against Corruption” challenges every citizen of Ghana to unite and Say No to Corruption. Corruption continues to be a problem that has permeated every sector of global economies. With its devastating effects, it undermines sustainable development and is an affront to human rights. But everyone can take part in the fight against corruption. Mobilizing and empowering the youth is key for ensuring sustainable solutions to combating corruption.

This year’s Anti-Corruption Day focuses on the youth and emphasis on their role in strengthening accountability and developing innovative solutions to prevent and curb corruption. As such, GACC embarked on outreach in schools within ten regions to admonish students to desist from corrupt practices. We strongly believe that by engaging the youth in discussions about what ethical behaviour consist of, what corruption is and ways of fighting it, and encourage young people to demand their right, it will ensure that future generations of citizens are brought up to expect corruption-free country and together we will win the fight against corruption. We admonish the youth to desist from corrupt practices and also report officials who demand facilitation fees from you to fast track services. We urge the youth to keep a close and public eye on Government activities as a proven method to keep the Government on the right track. We encourage everyone to put to practice the Right to Information (RTI) Act by demanding information to hold duty bearers accountable. In addition, we call on Government: 1. To reinforce commitments towards implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP) as well as other key anti-corruption conventions such as the African Union Convention Against Corruption (AU CAC) and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC); 2. To put in place measures to ensure enforcement of asset declaration and verification and checks on illicit enrichment. Particularly, the speedy passage of Conduct of Public Officer’s Bill On the back of the Farmers Day, we are reiterating that all policy makers and all other stakeholders within the Agricultural Sector should desist from acts of corruption such as diverging of premix fuel, fertilizers and other initiatives within the sector; Planting for Food and Jobs, cocoa spraying initiatives among others should jealously be guarded against acts of corruption and there should be clear steps and mechanisms to punish perpetuators

SIGNED: Beauty Emefa Narteh (Mrs)Executive Secretary – GACC