By Kamara Osman Faisal, GNA
Tamale, Sept. 30, GNA – Mr Benedict Doh, the
Finance Manager at the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), has observed that
building integrity among the youth is the surest way to promote accountability
to fight corruption.
He said educating the younger generation about
the benefits of integrity, transparency, and good governance would imbibe in
them the good moral ethics to kick out the canker.
Mr Benedict Doh was speaking at the
Anti-Corruption Forum held in Tamale aimed at informing and educating the youth
to be part of the fight against corruption, whiles ensuring transparency and
accountability at all levels of the society.
He said the youth were the future leaders and
the beacon of hope, saying “it is unacceptable to allow them to continue to
reinforce the status quo of corrupt practices, whiles preparing themselves for
leadership at the various stages in the future”.
The event was organised by the GII in partnership
with the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), with funding from
Global Affairs Canada through its Local Chapter the Transparency International
(TI).
Alhaji Abdul Razak Saani, the Northern
Regional Director of the NCCE, speaking on the theme: “Building Integrity and
Promoting Anti-Corruption Behavior among the Youth,” said the country lost over
three billion dollars every year through the activities of corruption.
He said the figure represents about 300 per
cent of all the aid’s Ghana received in a year to undertake development
projects, saying “imagine the number of hospitals, schools, recreational
facilities and the improved road infrastructure that could be added to the
country’s development”.
Alhaji Saani said the active participation of
the youth in fighting corruption remained significant to guiding a good future
and ensuring responsible citizenship to promote transparency and accountability.
Mr Johnson Opoku, the Programmes Director of
NCCE, who gave the keynote address, said there was the need for collective
responsibility from all to adequately win the fight against corruption.
He said the perception and actions of the youth
within the various universities in their learning processes must be
characterized by integrity to promote patriotism.
He underscored the need for non-governmental
organisations, civil society organisations and state agencies to intensify
campaigns on anti-corruption, especially forums for the youth to be educated on
the need to fight corruption.
The GII is mandated to fighting corruption and
promoting good governance by forging strong, trustworthy and effective
partnership with government, CSO’s and the citizenry.
GNA