Accra: Several youth groups in the Wassa Amenfi West Municipality have benefited from the National Commission for Civic Education's (NCCE's) awareness campaign on the rule of law and corruption prevention.
According to Ghana News Agency, the NCCE is implementing these targeted educational campaigns for youth groups in partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur International Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and co-funded by the European Union. The campaign is part of the project 'Civic engagement on the rule of law and the fight against corruption,' which aims to empower young people with practical knowledge on the Rule of Law, civic rights, and legal frameworks such as the Whistleblowers Act, and their role in promoting transparency and accountability.
Mr. Cornelius Ahiekpor, the Municipal NCCE Director, explained that the engagement was to educate the youth groups on their rights and protection under the Whistleblower's Act, among others. He appealed to the youth to speak out against wrongdoing in their respective communities to promote accountability, uphold integrity, protect public interest, and encourage transparency.
Superintendent of Police James Mensah Ankan, the Municipal Police Commander, informed participants that corruption is the abuse of entrusted power for private gains. He mentioned bribery, favoritism, facilitation payments, conflicts of interest, fraud, nepotism, and kick-backs as some forms of corruption in Ghana. He expressed his dismay at society labeling officers from the Ghana Police Service as the most corrupt institution, despite the actions of others in public and private sectors.
Superintendent Ankan further explained that both the giver and the receiver in corrupt acts are criminals and encouraged the youth to report such individuals to his office. Mr. Ebenezer Twum Ampofo, the Municipal Director of the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), educated participants on their core mandates and the forms of human rights. He assured that his office is fully prepared to investigate any act of corruption, abuse of office, and conflicts of interest.
The programme was well received by participants, who asked numerous questions and appreciated the insights shared by experts. They expressed gratitude to the NCCE and their sponsors for the engagement and requested for more such initiatives.