By
Samuel Akumatey, GNA
Ho, Dec. 09, GNA – Members
of the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) have reiterated the call on the
citizenry to report corrupt acts they witnessed towards realising gains in
on-going anti-corruption campaign.
Members of the
Coalition together with some stakeholders in the fight against corruption,
after a route march with the youth through streets in Ho as part of activities
to mark the 2019 Anti-Corruption Day, encouraged the populace to make use of
corruption reporting mechanisms.
Mrs Beauty Emefa Narteh,
Executive Secretary of GACC said the youth were selected as the focus of this
year’s Anti-Corruption Day celebration, and that their innovativeness was much
needed in developing appealing solutions to fight corruption.
She said as part of
the drive, the Coalition undertook outreach activities in schools within 10
regions in the country, cautioning them against corrupt practices.
Mrs Narteh said as
future leaders, the youth would require ample sensitisation on good ethics, and
encourage them to demand a corruption-free society.
“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”, she said.
The Secretary called
on Government to strengthen its commitment to the implementation of the
National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP) among other conventions, and also,
strictly enforce asset declaration laws.
“The complaints are
too many. It’s time to report acts of corruption to the appropriate agencies
for offenders to be dealt with”, Mr Eric Oduro Danso, a Senior Registrar at the
Volta Regional office of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative
Justice (CHRAJ), told the gathering.
He said the numerous
effects of corruption stifled the progress of the nation, and required that the
citizenry promptly reported such acts, and assured informants of their
protection and confidentiality under the Whistle Blowers Act.
Mr Patrick Asiedu,
Deputy Regional Director of the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE)
said the only way to keep duty bearers accountably was to frequently monitor
their activities and report those that made corrupt turns.
He said the
frequency of reporting corrupt deeds remained low, and urged the citizenry not
to conceal information vital to the fight against the canker.
Mr Francis Asong,
Executive Director of Voice Ghana, said the citizenry must show extra
commitment to national development by strongly taking up the anti-corruption
campaign.
He noted that the
spirit of patriotism, which helped develop the nation, was dying and had given
way to corrupt inclinations, evidenced in the spate of shoddy works funded with
hard earned tax revenue.
Mr Asong said the
nation risked losing its future, and called on all civil society organisations
to come on board and support.
He also called on
Government to augment its efforts at rooting out corruption by resourcing the
Office of the Special Prosecutor both with finance and human resource, to
enable him fully take up the fight.
Placards carried on
the route march read, “demand accountability from duty bearers”, “corruption
creates poverty”, “corruption undermines good governance”, and “stop bribing
the police”, among others.
This year’s
celebration is on the theme “United against Corruption.”
The Day is observed
December 09, every year to help ignite public, and stakeholder interest in the
fight against corruption.
GNA
