The Cape Coast Local Accountability Network (LANET), a member of the Ghana Anti-Corruption Campaign network, has cautioned pupils against engaging in corrupt practices at school, stressing that corruption can begin with seemingly minor acts such as bribery, cheating and favouritism.
The warning was delivered during an anti-corruption awareness programme held at St. Monica’s Girls’ School in Cape Coast to mark African Anti-Corruption Day 2026, celebrated under the theme, “Scaling Up the Promotion of Integrity and Anti-Corruption Actions Across Africa.”
Addressing the pupils, LANET member Scholastica Caroline Mensah explained that offering money, gifts or favours to teachers or classmates in exchange for higher marks, special treatment or other advantages constitutes corruption and undermines fairness in education.
She also identified other forms of corruption commonly found in schools, including stealing or hiding classmates’ belongings to demand favours, manipulating attendance records by signing in for absent students, selling examination or homework answers, and allowing friendship rather than merit to determine leadership positions or group assignments.
According to Ms Mensah, such behaviours damage academic integrity and, if left unchecked, can encourage unethical conduct later in life.
She urged pupils to embrace honesty by completing their own assignments, telling the truth and reporting dishonest practices whenever they occur.
“If pupils learn to reject bribery, cheating and favouritism from an early age, they will help build a society where success is based on merit rather than personal connections,” she said.
LANET called on education authorities, school administrators and parents to work together to strengthen ethics education, enforce school regulations and establish safe reporting channels for victims and whistleblowers.
As part of the campaign, the organisation engaged pupils through interactive discussions and visual presentations designed to help them recognise different forms of corruption and understand their consequences.
Another LANET member, Pauline Fleischer, encouraged the students to refuse any offer involving bribery or cheating and to report wrongdoing to trusted teachers or school authorities.
She explained that learning to resist dishonest behaviour at an early age helps children develop integrity, courage and accountability.
According to her, saying no to corruption, rejecting unfair advantages and reporting unethical conduct are essential steps towards creating a safe, fair and trustworthy learning environment.
LANET believes that promoting integrity in schools is critical to raising responsible citizens who will contribute to building a transparent and accountable society.
