As part of activities to commemorate the 2025 International Anti-Corruption Day, Mfantseman Local Accountability Network (LANeT), embarked on sensitisation programme at two basic schools in Mankessim to equip students with the requisite knowledge and tools to act with integrity to combat corruption.
The beneficiary schools are Ayisha Islamic, and Mankessim M/A Junior High Schools.
The celebration, under the theme: “Uniting the youth against corruption, shaping tomorrow’s integrity,” highlighted the importance of addressing corruption, promoting accountability and empowering them to avoid bribery and other related corruption issues.
It was initiated by Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), through the Mfantseman LANet and its partners with support from William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and Deutsche Gesellschaft fur International Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), an European Union (EU) funded PAIReD Programme.
Very Rev Prof Mark Nii Lamptey, an Anti-Corruption campaigner in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, highlighted the Continent’s commitment to fighting corruption under the 2003 UN Convention against Corruption.
“The theme for this year’s celebration, aligns with GACC’s long standing efforts at engaging and educating the youth on integrity, accountability and anti-corruption values,” he stated.
He said the objective for this year’s celebration focused on sensitising and empowering the youth in basic schools and the communities on corruption and also on whistleblowing, and their roles as responsible citizens to join a social media campaign to raise wider awareness.
Very Rev Lamptey who is also the Focal Person for Mfantsiman LANet took the learners through various types of corruption, their effects on institutions and the nation at large and how to report corruption to the appropriate institutions for action.
Others are the whistleblowers act, 2006 (Act 720), which provides legal frame for individuals to disclose information about unlawful or corrupt practices in the public interest.
According to him the Act 720 helped citizens to report people in authority or persons indulging in wrongdoing to protect the country’s public resources, stop corruption early before its happened, and to build a better and fairer Ghana, as well as to punish offenders.
He mentioned abuse of entrusted power for private and personal gains, cheating in examinations, teachers favouring students with good grades in exchange for gifts, bribery, fraud, embezzlement, nepotism, extortion and conflict of interest as examples of corruption.
Very Rev Prof Lamptey said corruption continued to be a canker, impeding the developmental progress of the country, with its impact extensively visible.
He asked the students to willingly report suspected corrupt cases and individuals to mandated institutions including, the Ghana Police Service, Attorney General, CHRAJ, Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and others for proper investigation and prosecution.
He assured the students and the public that the Whistle Blowers Act protected persons who were bold to report corruption from victimisation saying there were packages for whistleblowers.
He told the youth that their future was bright, but corruption could dim the lights hence the need to be bold to resist all forms of the temptation and shun engaging in corrupt practices, even if it seems like “everyone is doing it.”
“Reject the norm, do not accept corruption as a way of life, you deserve better and so if you see something, say, something for your voice matters.”
“Your actions today can shape Ghana’s tomorrow, let us build a transparent and accountable society together;” he added.
Mrs Beauty Emefa Nartah, Executive Director of GACC stated that empowering the youth with education and strategic investments would secure the nation’s future because once the younger ones were equipped, they would become powerful agents of change.
She advocated for parents, teachers, religious leaders, the media, public institutions, civil society and community leaders to continue supporting the youth to stand up for integrity and justice.
GNA
