The Ghana
Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) has reiterated the call on the citizenry to
report corrupt acts they witnessed towards realising gains in the ongoing
anti-corruption campaign.
It also encouraged the youth to make use of
corruption reporting mechanisms since their young minds and innovative skills
and knowledge will develop ‘appealing’ solutions to fight corruptions.
“We encourage the citizenry to put to practice
the Right to Information (RTI) Act by demanding information to hold duty
bearers accountable because the complaints are too many, it’s time to report
acts of corruption to appropriate agencies for offenders to be dealt with,” the
Coalition stressed.
Members of the
anti-graft group made the call together with some stakeholders in the fight
against corruption, after a route march with the youth through streets in Ho in
the Volta Region as part of activities to mark the 2019 Anti-Corruption Day
which was on the theme: ‘United against Corruption.
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.
Addressing the
gathering after the three-hour march, Beauty Narteh, the Executive Secretary of
the Coalition, noted that this years’ Anti-Corruption Day Celebration focused
on the youth because as future leaders,
they would require ample sensitisation, education, awareness on good ethics and
encourage them to demand corruption-free society.
She requested that the government strengthens
its commitment, dedication and determination to implement the National
Anti-Corruption Action Plan among other conventions to strictly enforce asset
declaration laws.
Eric Danso, Senior Registrar at the Volta
Regional Office of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice
(CHRAJ) observed that numerous effects of corruption had stifled the progress
of the nation and charged the citizenry to quickly report such acts since
informants would be protected and confidentiality under the Whistleblowers Act.
Patrick Asiedu, the Deputy Regional Director of
the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), cautioned that frequency of
reporting corrupt deeds remained low, and urged the citizenry not to conceal
information vital to fight against the canker.
Francis Asong, the Executive Director of Voice
Ghana, said the citizenry must show extra determination, dedication and
commitment to national development by taking up anti-corruption campaign
because the spirit of patriotism, which developed nations was gradually dying
out giving way to corrupt inclinations. -myjoyonline.com