The Obuasi Municipal Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has organised a civic engagement forum aimed at empowering women to actively participate in the fight against corruption and to promote accountability and transparency within their communities.
The programme which was held on the theme: “Strengthening the Rule of Law and the Fight against Corruption,” brought together 50 women from various community-based associations within the Municipality.
Mr Lawrence Nyame, the Municipal Director of the NCCE, who led the discussions, emphasised the importance of equipping women with knowledge of their civic rights and legal protections.
He stated that corruption, in its many forms, undermined social justice and national development, adding that empowering women to recognise and report corrupt practices is essential to building a fair and accountable society.
He said the engagement was designed to help women understand the principles of the rule of law and to give them the confidence to speak out against corruption.
Women are key stakeholders in promoting transparency because they are directly affected by corruption in markets, schools, and health facilities.
Some of the women expressed surprise at learning about the Whistleblower Act for the first time raising concerns about the credibility of certain reporting institutions and called for stronger protection for individuals who expose wrongdoing.
The initiative was funded by the European Union (EU) and the German Development Cooperation (GIZ).
Mr Nyame acknowledged the support of the sponsors, noting that the project has been instrumental in promoting civic awareness and democratic participation, particularly among women in marginalised communities.
He recommended that such engagements be organised quarterly to sustain the momentum and deepen public education on anti-corruption and rule of law issues.
