By
Emmanuel Todd, GNA
Accra, Dec. 4, GNA –
Madam Anna Bossman, Ghana’s Ambassador to France, has said the nation needs men
and women of strong moral characters to build institutions needed in the fight
against corruption.
She said it is
important to have strong systems and institutions, however, if these
institutions are run by persons of less moral value and integrity, they are
bound to fail.
Madam Bossman said
people with strong characters are needed to drive the economy, this means
persons whose intentions are devoid of personal interests and gains, but with a
public service spirit.
She said this in her
keynote address at the Launch of Anti-Corruption and Transparency (ACT) Week in
Accra.
This year’s
celebration is being held under the theme: “NACAP:Mobilizing National
Efforts and Resources to Combat Corruption, Five Years on”.
Madam Bossman urged
the implementers of the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP) not to
relent on their efforts to prevent and sustain the fight against corruption.
She said there are
areas where laws could not reach and that persons of good characters could lead
the fight in all areas.
Madam Bossman said
laws provided guidelines and its implementation is dependant on trusted people
who held public offices.
She commended the
Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and NACAP for
their role in sensitising and educating the public on the rule of law and
anti-corruption.
She said in the next
five years they should look forward to enforce the implementation of guidelines
and show result for work done in the fight against corruption.
Madam Bossman said
“Ghana Beyond Aid ” is possible if the fight against corruption is
intensified.
Madam Diana
Acconcia, European Union (EU)Ambassador to Ghana, said the EU is interested in
the fight against corruption in the country because corruption stifled the
growth of the nation and that the EU is equally in support with the Ghana
Beyond Aid agenda.
She said corruption
is common to many nations and its eradication needed joint efforts, hence the
adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Mr Joseph Whittal,
Commissioner CHRAJ, said the ACT week would focus on how to implement
guidelines of NACAP and reinforce commitment by implementing partners for the
years ahead.
He said the ACT week
sought to reinforce the need to make corruption a high risk and a low gain
venture in Ghana while educating the public on the dangers of corrupt
practices.
Mr Whittal said
activities of the celebration included an international forum on Assets
Recovery, Money Laundering and Mutual Legal Assistance, Forum on Integrity for
youth, NACAP High Level Conference to commemorate the international
Anti-Corruption Day and the GII Integrity Awards.
Mr Richard Quayson,
Deputy Commissioner, CHRAJ, launched five video clips ready to be aired through
main stream broadcasting and social media to educate the public on the dangers
associated to corrupt practices and the fact that the effects of corruption
moved in a chain.
GNA
